SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Ronda Rousey Had To Hide Her History of Concussions To Continue Competing

    Ronda Rousey had to hide years of concussions in order to be allowed to continue competing, the former WWE Superstar recently revealed. 

    Rousey\’s new memoir \’Our Story\’ is set to hit shelves next month and is expected to be a gripping read. In the book, the former WWE Superstar and UFC fighter doesn\’t hold back and makes her views clear on Vince McMahon. 

    Ronda\’s Concussion History

    Recently, Ronda Rousey appeared on the Never Before Told podcast to discuss her new book and her time in wrestling. When asked about a potential return to the ring, Rousey said that it\’s not possible. The former Women\’s Champion added that she had a history of concussions which she felt she had to keep a secret. 

    \”My concussion history, I had to keep secret for years so I would be able to continue to compete and perform. That’s basically why I had to retire.”

    Ronda Rousey Post-WWE

    Rousey\’s WWE tenure ended at SummerSlam 2023 when she lost to Shayna Baszler in the first MMA Rules match. While Rousey said in October that she was retired, she\’d make a surprise return to the ring outside WWE later that month. In November, Rousey made an appearance for Wrestling Revolver and shocked fans by appearing for the Tony Khan-owned ROH. 

    What\’s Next? 

    Ronda Rousey\’s days in the ring are seemingly up, but the former champion hasn\’t left the business behind entirely. Rousey will be appearing at WrestleCon in Philadelphia next month where she will be meeting fans and signing copies of her book. 

    More Reading Material

    Rousey\’s book isn\’t the only hotly-anticipated wrestling memoir set to be released. Next week, Rousey\’s nemesis Becky Lynch will release her \’The Man\’ and the reviews so far have been glowing. Lynch\’s new book even found its way to the White House when Lynch attended as part of the recent St. Patrick\’s Day celebration. 

  • AEW\’s Britt Baker Hits Back At \”Dumb\” False Claims Of Issues with Mercedes Mone

    Britt Baker and Mercedes Mone may both want to be the top woman in AEW, but that doesn\’t mean there\’s heat between the pair of former champions. 

    Mone arrived in AEW during the Big Business episode of Dynamite, following weeks of speculation that she\’d be joining. Mone had hardly been subtle in the run-up to the show, making clear to fans that she was in Boston, MA, her hometown and the host of Big Business, mere hours before the show.

    Mone\’s Recent Comment 

    Mone is poised to do big things in AEW though a recent comment by the CEO has raised some eyebrows. Shortly before her debut, Mone spoke about her WWE run as Sasha Banks and said she is confident she will wrestle for WWE again one day. 

    Britt Baker\’s Response

    Mone\’s comment has reportedly led to some heat within AEW as many felt it was a poor move for her to speak about returning to WWE shortly before her All-Elite arrival. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer was the first to report of Mone\’s comment not going down well with those in the company. 

    When a Twitter account insinuated that Britt Baker had spoken with Meltzer and was his source, the former AEW Women\’s World Champion made clear this was not the case. 

    The account in question doubled down on their claim that Baker had been the source for Meltzer. When they said this was an example of a woman fighting harder against the success of another woman, Baker responded yet again. 

    Britt Baker & Mercedes Mone

    It\’s ironic that this account is claiming that Baker spread news of the roster being unhappy, as the DMD has been wanting to see Mercedes join AEW for some time. Last August, Baker went as far as to say she was hoping and praying Mone would join AEW following her in-crowd appearance at All In. 

  • Who Was Carmelo Hayes\’ Masked Man On 3/19 WWE NXT?

    The identity of the masked man who aided Carmelo Hayes on the March 19, episode of WWE NXT isn\’t a secret anymore. 

    During the show, Trick Williams was ready to fight Hayes but was confronted by Melo\’s henchman. A figure then appeared on stage, pretending to be Hayes, which allowed the former NXT Champion the distraction to jump his former ally. 

    Masked Man Revealed

    The figure who appeared on the stage was none other than head WWE NXT referee Darryl Sharma, aka Adrian Butler, Fightful Select reports. Sharma and the masked man could be seen wearing identical shoes during the show. 

    Sources within WWE NXT also confirmed to Fightful that Sharma was the man in question. 

    Who is Darryl Sharma? 

    Before donning the stripes as a WWE NXT official, Sharma wrestled under the name \’Hornet\’ around the world. He is a student of the Battle Arts Academy, owned by WWE alum and current TNA name Santino Marella. At the academy, he trained in both wrestling and MMA. He ranked #437 in the PWI 500 ranking in 2016 but joined WWE in November that same year to be a referee. 

    Sneak Attacks

    Carmelo Hayes is hardly the first Superstar to use subterfuge to get the upper hand. As seen in the video below, several wrestlers have used disguises and other tactics to take out their opponents. 

    What\’s Next? 

    Melo and Trick will face off at NXT Stand & Deliver on April 6, mere hours before WWE WrestleMania 40. The show will take place at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA, less than a mile away from the Lincoln Financial Field that\’ll host WrestleMania. 

  • Emperor Palpatine: Ronda Rousey Shares Damning Opinion of Former WWE Boss Vince McMahon

    Ronda Rousey held nothing back in her recent estimation of Vince McMahon, following the ex-Chairman\’s resignation from WWE. 

    It\’s been just under two months since McMahon\’s second exit from wrestling’s top federation, this time due to Janel Grant\’s damning lawsuit. Grant alleges she was sexually abused and trafficked by McMahon during her tenure with WWE. He has denied all allegations. 

    Ronda Rousey on Vince McMahon

    Our Fight by Ronda Rousey is the ex-Superstar\’s second book and is due to be released next month. The former WWE Women\’s Champion does not hold back in her take on the 78-year-old billionaire. 

    In the memoir, Rousey calls McMahon the \’Emperor Palpatine\’ of wrestling, a nod to the Star Wars antagonist. She adds: 

    \”It’s hard sometimes to know where the evil, unethical, slimeball character of Vince McMahon played out for the cameras ends and the actual questionably ethical, many times sued, and multiple times accused of sexual misconduct Vince McMahon begins.

    \”That blurred line between character and reality is a recurring theme within the WWE Universe.”

    Restricting Women

    As an athlete who redefined what women could do in the world of MMA, the treatment of women is understandably an important theme in the book. When discussing WWE\’s Premium Live Events, Rousey suggested that the ultra-conservative views of Saudi Arabia are something McMahon would like to replicate. 

    \”[PLEs are] held in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, as well as now twice a year in Saudi Arabia, a nation that restricts the rights of women in a way that I’m certain Vince McMahon wishes he could.\”

    Positive Thoughts

    While McMahon is lambasted in Rousey\’s memoir, that doesn\’t extend to everyone in the family. Rousey has much more positive words for McMahon\’s son-in-law Triple H. 

    \”In addition to being my in-ring WrestleMania nemesis, he is arguably one of the best professional wrestlers in history and one of the better people on the business side.\”

    More Reading Material

    Rousey\’s book isn\’t the only hotly-anticipated wrestling memoir set to be released. Next week, Rousey\’s nemesis Becky Lynch will release her \’The Man\’ and the reviews so far have been glowing. Lynch\’s new book even found its way to the White House when Lynch attended as part of the recent St. Patrick\’s Day celebration. 

  • \”Sky\’s The Limit!\” The Undertaker Sees Big Things In GUNTHER\’S Future

    WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker sees a bright future for GUNTHER, who continues to impress the Deadman each week. 

    The Ring General has certainly proven to be dominant since coming to WWE. GUNTHER is one of the a handful of men to have held two championships for over one year, a group that includes Randy Savage, Pedro Morales, and Roman Reigns. 

    The Undertaker on GUNTHER

    On a recent edition of the Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker gushed about GUNTHER, who he believes has plenty to show in WWE. 

    \”The sky’s the limit for him. I think he’s a little bit of a throwback to a different era, but has the ability to work and tell stories.\”

    The former WWE World Champion spoke about GUNTHER\’s recent match with Dominik Mysterio and praised the Austrian for remaining a heel without turning \’Dirty Dom\’ face in the process. 

    GUNTHER Vs. The Undertaker? 

    By the time GUNTHER made it to the main roster, The Undertaker had long retired from action, robbing fans of what\’d be an epic showdown. Speaking about how such a match would go down, the Phenom predicted that they\’d descend into a fistfight after two chops. 

    What\’s Next? 

    GUNTHER will defend the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 40 against Sami Zayn. The Underdog earned the match with a controversial gauntlet win. Many fans have argued that Chad Gable\’s shoulders were not fully down for the decisive fall. On WWE TV, Gable has taken the Gauntlet match loss especially hard. 

    More Gold? 

    GUNTHER has no plans on losing the Intercontinental title, but fans may have to wait before they see him in a World Championship picture. Last year, GUNTHER said the time was not right for him to add another title to his collection. 

  • Silas Mason Vacates NWA National Title, Sets Sights On EC3\’s World Championship

    NWA wrestler Silas Mason has surrendered the promotion\’s National Championship to keep himself focused on EC3\’s NWA World Championship. 

    On the March 19, episode of NWA Powerrr, Mason relinquished the title and stated he was coming for the gold held by EC3. NWA President Billy Corgan then announced a tournament to determine the next NWA National Champion. The eight-man competition will see two finalists advance to a title match at NWA Hard Times. 

    The NWA National Title Tournament

    Paul Burchill, Thom Latimer, \’Magic\’ Jake Dumas, Carson Drake, AJ Cazana, Blake Troop, Bryan Idol, and Zyon were announced for the tournament. In the main event of NWA Powerrr, Troop defeated Idol to qualify for the next round. 

    Silas Mason\’s Title Reign

    Mason captured the title at the NWA 75 anniversary event in August of last year. Ironically, Mason won the title which had been vacated by EC3. The reigning NWA Worlds Champion gave up the gold in order to challenge (and later defeat) Tyrus to become NWA World Champion. 

    Mason held the title for a collective 205 days. His reign surpasses several notable names in the NWA including Ted DiBiase Sr., Paul Orndorff, Terry Taylor, and Tully Blanchard.

    Silas Mason\’s Setback

    Mason is focused on becoming NWA Worlds Champion, which comes at a unique time in his life. Earlier this month, Mason\’s home was destroyed by a fire. On Twitter, the NWA brought awareness to the tragedy and shared a GoFundMe for fans who want to help. Generous fans have already raised over $16,000, far surpassing the initial $10,000 goal. 

    NWA Hard Time 4

    Mason will challenge EC3 at NWA Hard Times 4. The show has already been filmed at the  Dothan Civic Center in Dothan, Alabama. The show was initially announced as a pay-per-view but will instead air as a special NWA Powerrr episode. 

  • Trish Stratus & Lita Eyeing Up WWE Women\’s Tag Titles, Vow to Beat the Title \’Curse\’

    Trish Stratus & Lita, affectionately known as \’Team Bestie\’ have their eyes on the WWE Women\’s Tag Titles and breaking the \’curse\’ that often befalls champions. 

    The pair of WWE Hall of Famers were at Monopoly Events\’ \’For the Love of Wrestling\’ convention that took place this month. During a Q&A with the fans in Manchester, England, the pair were asked about winning the tag titles, which Lita was all for. 

    \”People like to talk about this imaginary curse of the [women\’s] tag titles, but I think that if Trish and I were tag champs, that somehow the curse would magically disappear.\”

    Stratus was similarly enthusiastic at the notion of challenging for the titles, warning the Kabuki Warriors \”You\’re not ready for Team Bestie.\”

    The Curse of the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Titles

    While Lita described the \’curse\’ as imaginary, it\’s hard to ignore the setbacks that various champions have faced. The titles were stripped from Sasha Banks & Naomi after they walked out of WWE in May 2022. The titles would be left vacant for months before being won by Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez. That pair would lose the titles mere weeks later. 

    In May 2023, Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were stripped of the titles when Morgan suffered a shoulder injury. Less than two months later, Sonya Deville would suffer an ACL tear as champion which has kept WWE\’s first openly lesbian Superstar out ever since. 

    Another Injury

    This curse has shown no sign of slowing down, as we\’ve learned in recent days. Four-time and current WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champion Asuka is dealing with an injury and was recently pulled from live events. It\’s unclear how extensive the injury is, but with WrestleMania 40 growing closer, this could not come at a worse time for the Empress of Tomorrow. 

  • WWE Had Plans for Mercedes Mone Vs. Megan Thee Stallion, Claims Ex-Superstar

    WWE once had plans for a blockbuster match pitting Mercdes Mone against Megan Thee Stallion, according to WWE alum Mojo Rawley. 

    Rawley was in attendance for the recent Crunchyroll Anime Awards and was there to support Mone, who presented alongside Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. The All-Elite talent presented the Best Slice of Life Award and was spotted with Megan Thee Stallion. 

    Megan Thee Stallion Vs. Mercedes Mone

    Appearing on Mandy Rose & Tino Sabatelli\’s Power Alphas podcast, Mojo Rawley spoke about meeting Megan Thee Stallion, who was also at the awards ceremony. The former WWE 24/7 Champion then shared that WWE had something planned for her at a previous year\’s SummerSlam.

    \”She was going to do something with Mercedes at WWE SummerSlam in years previous, and it just never materialized and fell through for one reason or another. We all know how those situations can go.\”

    Mojo added that Stallion was \”cool\” and far taller than he first thought. He didn\’t give a year as to when she was going to be involved with WWE. It was reported in 2021 that WWE had planned to have Stallion do something, though that never materialized. 

    Mercedes Mone Today

    Mone never had her match with Megan Thee Stallion in WWE, and left the promotion in 2022. She joined AEW earlier this month at the Big Business Dynamite and is reportedly the highest-paid woman in wrestling. Despite her AEW arrival, Mone has said she\’s sure she\’ll compete for WWE again one day, which unsurprisingly went down poorly with those in AEW. 

    Mojo Rawley Outside WWE

    Rawley, the winner of the 2017 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, was released from WWE in 2021. The following year, he got engaged to Gracie Tracy and the couple married in Florence, Italy that October. 

    Rawley has remained in the public eye outside WWE and appeared in the G.I. Joe prequel film, Snake Eyes. He is currently a co-host for TMZ Sports which airs on Fox Sports FS1. 

    Celebrity Matches

    While Stallion never competed for WWE, several artists have stepped between the ropes over the years. Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny has competed multiple times in WWE, while Smashing Pumpkins\’ Billy Corgan appeared on ECW on TNN in 1999, years before he acquired the NWA. For TNA\’s first event, country singer Toby Keith got physical with Jeff Jarrett and delivered a vertical suplex to Double-J. 

    H/T – Fightful

  • Sammy Guevara Grateful for Fan Support Amid Latest Suspension from AEW

    AEW\’s Sammy Guevara has expressed his gratitude to fans who have shown their support amid his ongoing suspension from the All-Elite promotion. 

    Guevara was suspended earlier this month from AEW for going against protocol during a match with Jeff Hardy. Hardy would suffer a broken nose during the match and was suspected to have suffered a concussion. While Jeff did not suffer a concussion, Guevara did not stop the match like he should have to allow for immediate testing, resulting in his suspension. 

    Sammy Guevara Speaks

    In his latest Vlog, Guevara shared some of the highlights of his life outside of the ring, including spending time with his wife Tay Melo, and their child. At the end of the video, Guevara shared a message of appreciation to the fans. 

    “To the people who support me, whether it be at the beginning or in the beginning it in the middle or maybe this is your first video you’ve watched of mine, I just want to say thank you.\”

    Guevara added that he acknowledges he has made mistakes, but is trying to be better. 

    \”I understand that I am a person who has made mistakes but I am also a person who has tried to be better.

    \”‘Roll with the punches’ is a saying that I truly understand now at 30 years old. Life will throw a lot at you. But it’s how you deal with those adversities that make you who you are. I know who I am and I know what I’m going after.

    \”See you at the top.”

    Guevara\’s Past Controversies

    The incident with Jeff Hardy is hardly the first piece of notoriety for Guevara in AEW. Back in 2020, a chairshot from Guevara who used the wrong type of chair resulted in Jeff\’s brother Matt requiring 13 staples. Hardy also took a nasty spill during a forklift spot at All Out that September.

    In June 2020, Guevara was suspended for comments made in 2016 in which he said he wanted to \”go r*pe\” Sasha Banks. Guevara underwent sensitivity training and his salary at the time was donated to the Women\’s Center of Jacksonville. Guevara would apologize publicly and in private to Banks, who recently joined AEW as Mercedes Mone. 

  • The Reviews Are In: WWE Stars & Legends Praise Becky Lynch\’s \’The Man\’ Memoir

    Becky Lynch\’s new memoir is proving to be a hit with WWE Superstars and legends alike with glowing reviews pouring in for the new book. 

    Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl is due to release later this month, and will tell the tale of how young Rebecca Quin became the internationally recognized WWE Superstar she is today. The book is 384 pages long. 

    The Reviews Are In

    Lynch\’s memoir will hit shelves on March 26 but some WWE stars have been able to get their hands on an advanced copy of the book. In reviews from Simon & Schuster Publishing WWE Hall of Famer \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin was impressed with how well The Man writes about her life. 

    \”Becky’s writing style is infectious and contagious. Just like her personality. From hard times and hard decisions, to changing the landscape of sports entertainment, the self-described ‘underdog’ has always been destined to do great things. I’m sure there is more to come.\”

    John Cena, somebody Lynch shared the ring with for a segment in 2018, believes the memoir shows the merits of a three-word mantra of his. 

    \”Her authenticity allows us to feel her struggles and mature alongside her as the story unfolds… It might just be the new Underdog’s Guide to the Galaxy. A trailblazer, a groundbreaker and a great example of my 3 favorite words, Never Give Up.\”

    Lynch\’s husband Seth Rollins said that the book shares plenty in common with its author. 

    \”Effortlessly authentic, poignant without ever trying too hard, and a little rough around the edges—that’s my lovely wife, and it’s also her lovely book… Between being a full-time WWE Superstar, a full-time mother, and a GOAT life partner, my one and only somehow casually found the bandwidth to pen a perfect memoir…because of course she did.”

    Mick Foley, who knows a thing or two about writing a gripping memoir, was very impressed with the tome. 

    \”Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read… I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”

    Stephanie McMahon is confident about how the book will fare once readers get their own copies. 

    “Becky Lynch: The Man is the story of a remarkable woman who had the guts to put it all on the line… Becky Lynch defies every stereotype. The crowd loves her because she is vulnerable and real, and I have no doubt you will too!”

    The Man at the White House

    One person who may be reading the book soon is U.S. President Joe Biden. The Man was recently a guest at the White House as part of the recent St. Patrick\’s Day festivities. Lynch even left a copy of her book in the White House, as she made clear with a tweet. 

    It\’s fitting that Lynch was at the White House this past week as she\’s been feeling a lot more American as of late. After this week\’s Raw, Lynch had some big news to share with the WWE Universe. 

  • Booker T Comes Clean: Claim Of \’Run In\’ With CM Punk Was \”Just Playing Around\”

    WWE NXT commentator Booker T was just playing around when he claimed he had a run-in with CM Punk during a recent episode of the gold brand. 

    Booker claimed during a recent edition of his Hall of Fame podcast that he and Punk \”almost got into it\” when the Chicago-Made star attended the March 12, taping. Booker did not share details of what transpired but said he\’d speak more on the matter at a later time. 

    Suspicions Arise

    Immediately, suspicions arose regarding Booker\’s claim of a backstage altercation with Punk. The ex-AEW star has been well-behaved since his return to WWE in November of last year and has been especially helpful with the WWE NXT roster.

     Nobody on said roster, or anyone at the taping, could recall any confrontation between the two. Booker would also waste no time in downplaying the seriousness of this alleged altercation. 

    Booker T Comes Clean

    On the most recent edition of his podcast, Booker T shared the truth about this so-called altercation with Punk. Booker admitted that he wasn\’t exactly being honest when he claimed there was a \’run in\’ with the Raw Superstar. 

    \”I’m trying to entertain my fans… Because that story, that 40-second story that people wrote, it was clickbait, guys.

    \”Did I put it out there? Did I say it? As far as I had a beef, I was gonna run up? Yeah, I said [it] But I’m entertaining you guys. Entertaining. Just playing around.”

    Booker\’s (Real) Run-In

    While two backstage altercations would ultimately doom CM Punk\’s AEW run, Booker is hardly faultless when it comes to trouble backstage. In 2006, Booker and Batista had a legitimate fistfight at a SummerSlam commercial shoot. 

    The issues between them seemed to stem from Batista suggesting that he was superior to Booker (and others on the roster) because of his quick rise to the top of WWE. The fight left both men bloodied, according to sources at the time. 

    What\’s Next? 

    When not making up stuff for his podcast, Booker can be found behind the desk as an NXT commentator and will continue to call the action at WWE NXT, including at the Stand & Deliver show that\’ll take place on April 6. 

    CM Punk will be on the March 25, episode of WWE Raw that will take place in his hometown of Chicago, IL. Punk has also vowed that he\’ll be at WrestleMania 40, even if he\’s not invited.

  • Jack Perry is Still With AEW But Tony Khan Remains \”Really Mad\” Over All In 2023 Brawl

    Jack Perry is still with AEW, despite what may have been suggested, but fans should not expect to see him any time soon. 

    Perry last appeared for AEW at All In 2023, where he lost the FTW Championship to Hook. This match, like much of the show, was overshadowed by the backstage confrontation Perry had with CM Punk. Their fight led to both men being suspended from AEW and Punk ultimately being released following his second suspension in less than a year. Punk has since gone on to return to WWE. 

    Jack Perry Outside AEW

    At NJPW Battle in the Valley 2024, Perry made a stunning appearance, his first in any wrestling company since AEW All In. Perry, clad in a \”scapegoat\” armband, tore up an AEW contract. This was a surprise to everyone, including the security. Guards at Battle in the Valley first thought Perry was a fan entering the ring, but were quickly told this was part of the show. 

    Jack Perry\’s Current Status. 

    Perry\’s appearance at the NJPW show understandably led many to believe his time with AEW had ended. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave some clarification on Perry\’s current status. The former FTW Champion is still with AEW but is simply not being used. 

    Meltzer added that Tony Khan is still \”really mad\” at Perry over what transpired at AEW All In. The general gist of things is that Perry cost AEW CM Punk, who for his issues in AEW, is one of the biggest names the company had on its roster. With Punk not around, the lion\’s share of the blame has fallen on the former Jungle Boy. 

    Has Tony Khan Gone Too Far? 

    Meltzer argued that Perry should have been suspended for a month or two and then brought back to programming. Instead, we are now seven months into Perry\’s absence from AEW programming. Meltzer said that the punishment for Perry doesn\’t fit the \’crime\’ he committed last August in Wembley. 

  • How Did Cody Rhodes Get Away with Expletive Promo on 3/18 WWE Raw?

    WWE was willing to make a special exception for Cody Rhodes on the March 18, episode of Raw, given his high-profile ongoing war of words with The Rock. 

    During the show, Rhodes held nothing back in his scathing comments about The Bloodline\’s newest member. Rhodes, dressed in an all-dark suit, dubbed the Brahma Bull an \”asshole\” and added that the Hollywood megastar is deep down a \”little b*tch!\” Still not finished, Rhodes said that The Rock will have a case of LDS (Little d*ck syndrome) when WrestleMania 40 comes around. 

    Cody Rhodes on WWE Raw

    Cody\’s comments shocked fans given WWE\’s recent memo reminding talent about the importance of adhering to PG guidelines. This memo has led to some in WWE feeling frustrated, believing that The Rock, who has been cursing up a storm on social media, should be forced to play by the same rules as everyone else in WWE.

    The apparent double standard between The Rock and the full-time roster is hard to ignore. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that there had been a memo. It was stressed that WWE realized that Rhodes had to have something big on Raw in rebuttal to Rock\’s expletive-laden promos fans have been seeing regularly. 

    \”They knew that he [Rhodes] had to come back… [Cody] was given the opportunity to do it because they wanted him to stay babyface… if he came off badly on this promo and Rock came off so great in Memphis, that\’s not what they want.”

    What\’s Next? 

    Rhodes & The Rock will be on opposing sides of a tag-team match that will almost certainly headline WrestleMania 40: Saturday. The next night, Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. This will be Cody\’s final opportunity at Reigns, a stipulation made by the Brahma Bull. 

    Rhodes and Reigns will come face-to-face on the March 22, episode of WWE SmackDown. Paul Heyman has promised that no Bloodline members other than himself and Reigns will be there, as long as Cody shows up to the confrontation alone. 

  • USA! Becky Lynch Reveals She\’s Now An American Citizen After 3/18 WWE Raw (Video)

    Becky Lynch had quite the night at this week\’s Monday Night Raw as she had some huge news to share after the show went off the air. 

    In the main event of Raw, Lynch defeated Nia Jax in a Last Woman\’s Standing match. Both competitors held nothing back in the violent match that marked one of the few singles matches between the two. In the closing moments of the match, Lynch dove off a ladder and drove Jax through the announce table with a leg drop to get the win. 

    After the match, Lynch was confronted by WWE Women\’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. The two will face off at WWE WrestleMania 40 next month. 

    After Raw went off the air, Lynch had some big news to share with the fans. The first Irish-born female champion in WWE revealed that as of a few hours ago, Becky Lynch officially became a citizen of the United States of America.

    All American

    The news that Becky Lynch officially became an American citizen on Monday takes on even greater significance with the context that she was at the White House just 24 hours earlier hanging out with President Joe Biden. 

    Politics are very divisive these days, but we can all agree the President of the United States inviting The Man to the White House is pretty cool and a win for wrestling.

    Wrestlers who are as successful as Lynch are masters of self-promotion and she\’s no exception. She brought a special gift to her visit to the White House – a copy of her upcoming book, Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Girl – now available for pre-order at Amazon and is due to release on March 26, 2024.

    Lynch has been living in the U.S. for over a decade now and spent time living in New York. She later moved to Florida upon signing with WWE in order to be close to the Performance Center.

    Full Match: Becky Lynch vs. Nia Jax

    WWE has uploaded the complete Last Woman Standing Match between Lynch and Nia Jax from the March 18, 2024 edition of WWE RAW. This was as hard-hitting as anything we\’ve seen on WWE television this year and the women proved once again that they\’re more than capable of closing out a show.

    Women In Main Events

    Becky Lynch is one of a few women in WWE history who can say they\’ve competed in the main event of a WrestleMania. 

    Nia Jax recently headlined the WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 premium live event against reigning Women\’s World champion, Rhea Ripley. Jax was not victorious, but spoke about how much that experience meant to her:

  • Nic Nemeth Vs. Alberto El Patron Set For Vacant AAA Mega Title At TripleMania XXXII Monterrey

    A battle of former WWE Superstars will culminate with either Nic Nemeth or Alberto El Patron emerging as the next AAA Mega Champion next month. 

    The title was recently vacated by El Hijo del Vikingo, who boasted the records for the longest individual reign and for the most title defenses. Vikingo, who also appears for AEW, gave up the gold after suffering a leg injury last month which resulted in that night\’s match ending abruptly. 

    New AAA Mega Champion

    In an announcement, AAA confirmed that El Patron, who won a spot in the upcoming title match via winning a three-way, will face Nic Nemeth. Their match will go down at AAA TripleMania XXXII which will take place on April 27. The show will take place from the Mobil Super Stadium and will serve as the first of three TripleMania events this year.

    Nemeth Vs. Patron

    Though they\’ve yet to face off under their current names, Nic Nemeth and Alberto El Patron are no strangers. The pair feuded in 2013 after Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler) cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Patron (then Alberto Del Rio.) The World Heavyweight Championship win is still considered one of the best Money in the Bank cash-ins in the 19-year history of the concept. 

    The pair\’s feud would also see the rarely-seen \’double turn\’ during their title match at Payback that same year. The intensity and underhanded tactics of Del Rio would turn him heel while Ziggler\’s resilience in the face of adversity turned him face in the process. 

  • Matt Hardy At Raw: AEW Star & Wife Reby Attended 3/18 Show in Raleigh, NC

    Matt Hardy has been a part of the AEW roster for years, but that didn\’t stop the veteran and his wife Reby from enjoying this week\’s WWE Monday Night Raw in person. 

    During the show, Michael Cole made reference to Matt\’s WrestleMania 25 showdown with his brother Jeff. This was segue into the upcoming brother vs. brother match that\’ll see Jimmy and Jey Uso face off at WrestleMania 40.

    On Instagram, Reby Hardy made clear that she was aware to Cole\’s reference to her husband and brother-in-law. Reby, who has worked with her husband in the wrestling business, revealed that both she and Matt were at Raw and seemingly had a great time. 

    Matt Hardy\’s AEW Status

    Earlier this month, it was reported that Hardy\’s AEW deal will come to an end very soon. There have been discussions between the two sides about a new deal, though it is unclear as to how far those talks are, or how likely it is that a deal will be reached. 

    Matt Hardy in AEW

    Matt joined AEW in 2020 but his in-ring time has been very limited as of late. After competing 37 times for AEW in 2023, Hardy has had just one match for the promotion in 2024. That bout came on the January 5, episode of Rampage and saw the Hardy Boyz and Mark Briscoe defeat Kip Sabian, the Butcher, and the Blade. His most recent pay-per-view victory saw the Hardys and Hook defeat the Gunns and Ethan Page at AEW Double or Nothing 2023 last May. 

  • Paul Heyman Shares Apocalypse Now Inspiration Behind Roman Reigns\’ Tribal Chief Character

    Marlon Brando\’s incredible performance as Col. Walter Kurtz helped inspire Roman Reigns to be the Tribal Chief, Paul Heyman has revealed. 

    In 2020, Reigns turned heel and aligned himself with Paul Heyman, a move that ironically made the Shield alum the most popular he\’d been in years. Since then, Reigns has dominated WWE as Universal Champion, a title he unified with the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. Reigns is currently closing in on 1,300 days as Universal Champion. 

    Roman Reigns & Apocalypse Now

    Reigns hasn\’t just dominated WWE\’s roster, but has dominated his family as the \’Tribal Chief.\’ In a recent talk at the BSM Summit, Heyman spoke about Reigns and the Hollywood inspiration behind his character. 

    \”I had Roman Reigns watch ‘Apocalypse Now’ multiple times. To me, that was the heart and soul of the character of the Tribal Chief. A warrior so great that he conquered his own island.\”

    The 1979 film sees Marlon Brando portray Colonel Walter Kurtz, a U.S. military powerhouse who has gone mad and now leads his own tribe deep in the Cambodian jungle. In the interview, Heyman compared Reigns to Brando\’s gripping rendition of the character.

    \”Brando presented himself as a pseudo-God. We call it a Tribal Chief. ..That’s where the villainry of Roman Reigns comes in because he says ‘Acknowledge me,’ and [at] once you acknowledge him.\”

    What\’s Next? 

    If Reigns is indeed the Col. Kurtz of WWE, his reign of terror may be coming to an end. The film ends with Kurtz being killed by Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) at the behest of the U.S. government.  Reigns will defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. 

  • CM Punk: I\’ll Be At WWE WrestleMania 40, Even if I\’m Not Invited

    WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk can\’t compete due to a torn triceps injury, but that won\’t keep him from having a role at WrestleMania 40 next month. 

    CM Punk has been out of action since the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match, in which he suffered his injury. This is the latest injury setback for Punk, who was taken out of action in 2022 during his AEW run after suffering an injury while diving to the fans. Punk would suffer a triceps tear during his AEW All Out match with Jon Moxley that same year. 

    CM Punk at WWE WrestleMania 40

    Punk had hoped to headline WrestleMania this year; an accolade missing from the Best in the World\’s impressive career. Punk not headlining WrestleMania 28 in favor of The Rock Vs. John Cena was alluded to during a segment between Punk and Cody Rhodes, with the Chicago-Made star hinting that Rock would replace Rhodes as the main eventer of WrestleMania 40. 

    On this week\’s Raw, a video aired hyping up Punk\’s return to WWE programming which will come on next week\’s episode of Monday Night Raw in Chicago, IL. During this video, Punk addressed his WrestleMania status. The former WWE & AEW World Champion vowed that he would be at WrestleMania 40, even if he isn\’t formally invited. 

    CM Punk\’s Cancelled Plans

    Punk was initially planned to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. Instead, the World Heavyweight Champion will defend against Drew McIntyre. Punk was also scheduled for a role at last month\’s WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 event, which also had to be scrapped due to his injury. 

  • Final Boss: The Rock Confirms Role on Go-Home WWE Raw Before WrestleMania 40

    The Rock will be part of the final episode of Monday Night Raw ahead of WrestleMania 40, as confirmed by the TKO Board member himself this week. 

    Taking to Twitter, The Rock vowed that he will electrify when he appears on the April 1, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. The Bloodline\’s newest member also encouraged fans to \”sit back\” and \”enjoy the ride\” that he is taking the WWE Universe on. 

    Plans for The Rock

    There\’s no confirmation as to what The Rock will be doing on the go-home Raw ahead of WrestleMania 40. At the two-night Premium Live Event, Rock will team with Roman Reigns to face Seth Rollins & Cody Rhodes. Should The Bloodline win, then the following night\’s Undisputed WWE Universal title match between Rhodes & Reigns will be under \’Bloodline Rules.\’ If Cody and Seth emerge on top, there will be no Bloodline involvement with the WrestleMania 40: Sunday main event. 

    The Rock After WrestleMania

    The Rock will have a huge role to play at WrestleMania, but there have been questions as to will be next for him after April 7. It is believed within WWE that the upcoming tag-team match will not be the Brahma Bull\’s last time competing in WWE. Many are still hopeful to see The Rock Vs. Roman Reigns, a match initially penciled in for WrestleMania before the fan backlash and \’We Want Cody\’ movement led to WWE changing course. 

    As to when that match will take place is something of a mystery. The Rock will be filming for \’The Smashing Machine\’ from May to August of this year which will mean he can\’t compete in WWE. Options for when Rock Vs. Reigns could take place include SummerSlam (though it seems unlikely), WWE\’s second Saudi show of 2024 or WrestleMania 41. 

  • Double Feature: AEW Dynamite & Rampage To Air Back-to-Back on March 20

    Fans tuning into this week\’s AEW Dynamite will enjoy not two but three hours of programming, with Rampage set to air immediately after.

    On Twitter, AEW shared the news that fans can expect three hours this Wednesday. The shows will air from the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

    AEW Dynamite – March 20 Matches

    This week\’s AEW Dynamite will be a stacked show with the TNT Championship on the line. Christian Cage and Adam Copeland will do battle in an I-Quit match in their hometown. On last week\’s episode of AEW Collision, Copeland introduced \’Spike,\’ a 2×4 filled with nails he plans to use as a weapon.

    Chris Jericho will take on Hook on this week\’s Dynamite. This match was confirmed last week. Jericho and Hook are currently a tag team and defeated the Gates of Agony on last week\’s episode of AEW Dynamite.

    In his first singles match since signing with AEW, Kazuchika Okada will take on AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston. In addition to the AEW gold being on the line, Kingston\’s Ring of Honor World Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship will also be on the line.

    In women\’s division action, AEW Women\’s World Champion \’Timeless\’ Toni Storm and Mariah May will face Deonna Purrazzo and Thunder Rosa. The Virtuosa unsuccessfully challenged Storm for the gold at AEW Revolution 2024.

    Mercedes Mone Speaks

    Mercedes Mone will also be at this week\’s Dynamite to address the crowd. The former WWE & IWGP Women\’s Champion made her AEW debut last week. 

    Currently, there are no confirmed matches for AEW Rampage. Keep checking out SE Scoops for the latest updates on AEW programming. 

  • End Of An Era: WWE Hosts Its Final Event At Historic James Brown Arena in Augusta, GA

    WWE\’s Road to WrestleMania saw the Superstars travel to Augusta\’s James Brown Arena, for what will be the final time. 

    Over 6,000 fans attended the final WWE event at the James Brown Arena for the show that took place on March 17. It was fitting that Georgia\’s own Cody Rhodes headlined the show with a hard-fought victory over Drew McIntyre. 

    The historic venue is set to close this summer and will be rebuilt from the ground up, the new facility is expected to open sometime in 2026. 

    WWE Augusta Results

    Here are the results of WWE\’s final event in the James Brown Arena: 

    • R-Truth def. Dominik Mysterio by DQ
    • R-Truth & New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) def. Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, & Dominik Mysterio)
    • AJ Styles def. Carlito
    • WWE Women\’s World Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) def. Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
    • Sami Zayn def. Shinsuke Nakamura
    • LA Knight def. Solo Sikoa
    • Omos def. Akira Tozawa
    • Naomi & Bianca Belair def. IYO SKY & Kairi Sane
    • Street Fight: Cody Rhodes def. Drew McIntyre

    Wrestling at the James Brown Arena

    WWE\’s biggest event at the historic venue came on December 3, 2006, when WWE-ECW held its first, and last, brand-exclusive pay-per-view. December to Dismember saw 4,800 fans watch on as Bobby Lashley became ECW World Champion in the first, and last, Extreme Elimination Chamber match. 

    WWE also hosted several untelevised events at the venue, the first being in February 1985. The show\’s main event saw Tito Santana defeat Intercontinental Champion Greg Valentine via count-out, meaning \’The Hammer\’ kept the gold. WCW also hosted untelevised events at the arena. 

  • TNA World Title Matches Set for April 2024 Starrcast Downunder Convention

    Championships from TNA Wrestling will be on the line in Australia next month as part of an event that\’ll see some of the biggest stars in wrestling go \’down under.\’

    The Starrcast Downunder convention will take place from April 11 to April 14, from Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Guests named for the convention include Bret Hart, Mickie James, Eric Bischoff, Bull Nakano, SoCal Val, Alicia Fox, Powerhouse Hobbs and Chris Masters, among others. The event will be presented by Oceania Pro Wrestling (OPW), in partnership with Visit Victoria. 

    TNA Wrestling at Starrcast

    The upcoming convention will see plenty of TNA participation. It has been announced that TNA World Champion Moose will put his title on the line against Josh Alexander. The challenger never lost the title but his record-breaking reign ended in 2023 due to an injury. This match will go down at the Australian Stampede on April 13 at the Selkirk Stadium, and will be curated by Bret \’Hitman\’ Hart.\’

    On the women\’s side of things, the HER event will be hosted by Mickie James and will also see TNA gold on the line. TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace will defend against Delta, the most dominant force in the Australian wrestling scene. That show will take place on April 12 from the Selkirk Stadium.

    In addition to the three TNA talents named in these matches, Starrcast Downunder will also see KUSHIDA make an appearance. 

    TNA Wrestling in Australia

    Starrcast Downunder will mark TNA\’s return to Australia after hosting its Down Under Tour in the summer of last year. That tour saw the roster, host shows at the Equex Centre in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. 

  • Watch: Cody Rhodes Shares Touching Moment with \’Mini Cody\’ Fan At WWE Live Event

    Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes has once again proven to be a man of the people with a recent interaction at a WWE live event. 

    At the untelevised event in Augusta, Georgia, Rhodes was set to compete against Drew McIntyre in the show\’s main event. Before going into combat with the Scottish Warrior though, Cody noticed a young fan dressed as him in the crowd. Rhodes plucked the lucky young fan out of the crowd and the duo hit Rhodes\’ signature \’WHOA\’ pose. 

    Not only did the young fan get a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but they also got to see Rhodes win. The American Nightmare bested McIntyre in the main event which was also a Street Fight. 

    Cody Rhodes & The Fans

    This is hardly the first time Rhodes has gone the extra mile to make a show special for a fan. Recently, Rhodes got up close and personal with a visually impaired fan at a WWE event who held a sign saying they were trying to see him. This heartwarming interaction came about mere weeks after Rhodes agreed to be the Best Man at a fan\’s wedding.

    At WWE live events, Cody has been competing in Extreme Rules matches and has been gifting pieces of a broken table to those in the crowd. After the final live Raw of 2023, Rhodes went even further and gifted a Christmas Tree to a fan.

    Speaking of the Holidays, Rhodes made one young fan\’s season extra special by sending a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt. More recently, Rhodes gave a different kind of gift to a fan; the gum of Rhea Ripley.

  • The Rock Hits Back Over Un-PG Language Criticism: \’I Shoot from the Hip!\’

    The Rock couldn\’t care less that there have been issues with the language he uses on WWE programming and has declared that he is shooting \”from the hip.\”

    On the March 15, episode of SmackDown, the Brahma Bull brought back his Hollywood theme and performed in a special \’Rock Concert.\’ The Bloodline member took aim at Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes, two men he\’ll face at WrestleMania 40: Saturday. 

    Criticism of The Rock

    While The Rock has been entertaining since his return, his comeback is starting to rub some within the promotion the wrong way. The Rock went too long with his segment on SmackDown, leading to the Legado del Fantasma Vs. LWO tag match being cut short. 

    As sources exclusively told SE Scoops, talent were recently reminded about adhering to the company\’s PG guidelines on TV and social media. This has led to some resentment in WWE as many see a double standard and believe The Rock is getting special treatment. The former WWE Champion has been able to curse in his social media promos and opened his most recent promo with an \”are you f***ing kidding me?\”

    The Rock Responds

    On Instagram, The Rock had a fiery response to the notion that his language is crossing a line on WWE programming. The Great One argued that he\’d \”rather be real than not.\” He added, \”I talk from the heart, shoot from the hip, and try to always have fun.\” The Rock signed off with his self-prescribed new moniker as the \’Final Boss.\’

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C4m3f2EO4za

  • Injured El Hijo del Vikingo Vacates AAA Mega Title, New Champion to be Crowned Next Month

    El Hijo del Vikingo has vacated the AAA Mega Championship due to an injury that the now-former champ unfortunately suffered last month. 

    The injury in question happened during a match in the López Mateos Arena. Vikingo was assessed at the venue and it was believed he had damaged a ligament in his right knee. His match was called off and he was tended to backstage. 

    AAA Mega Title Vacated

    The AAA Mega Championship has been vacated due to the Vikingo\’s injury. The promotion announced that a new champion will be crowned at Triplemania XXXII Monterrey on April 27. Alberto El Patron won a triple threat match against Cibernético and Psycho Clown to qualify for the upcoming AAA Mega Championship match. 

    Vikingo won the title back at TripleMania Regia II in December of 2021. His 828-day reign is the longest in the title\’s history. He also boasts the record for the most title defenses, with his 23 defenses being more than double of El Texano Jr. who holds the #2 spot with 11 defenses.

    El Hijo del Vikingo\’s Setbacks

    This is the latest setback for Vikingo, who suffered a significant injury in late 2023. Vikingo suffered a hip injury at an ROH event when a dive went wrong and was seen using a wheelchair after the match. That incident happened just one month after Vikingo collapsed backstage at AAA TripleMania XXXI: Mexico City. On social media, a video backstage made its way around, showing the Vikingo down backstage and being stretchered away.