SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Latest on Peacemaker Season 2 Gives New Hope for John Cena At WWE WrestleMania 40

    John Cena could indeed be free for an appearance at WrestleMania 40, despite previous concerns that his filming schedule could prevent him being at the show. 

    Cena is eager to do something at WrestleMania 40, though no plans have been publicly confirmed for the 16-time WWE World Champion just yet. There have been concerns that Cena\’s commitment to filming Peacemaker could keep him from the annual two-night mega-show. The hit series from DC Studios sees John reprise the role of Peacemaker/Christopher Smith he first played in 2021\’s The Suicide Squad. 

    Latest on Peacemaker Season 2

    Cena\’s blossoming acting career keeps him very busy, which is why WrestleManias 37 and 38 came and went without an appearance. Now, the show\’s own Jennifer Holland has given hope to fans wishing to see Cena at WrestleMania 40. Responding to a fan\’s question about the show\’s second season, Holland, who portrays Emilia Harcourt shared her excitement. She also noted that the plan is for Peacemaker season two to begin filming this Summer, long after WrestleMania.

    \”Yessss we start filming this summer! It’s gonna be so gooooood.\”

    John Cena at WrestleMania

    Cena made his WrestleMania debut in 2003 during the pre-show, and would open the show by winning the U.S. Championship the following year. Cena has competed a total of 16 times at WrestleMania with eight of those matches being for a World Championship. He currently boasts a win/loss record of 10-6. 

  • Charlotte Flair Donates 200 Items of Clothing to Women& Children\’s Shelter in Amazing Act of Generosity

    Charlotte Flair\’s efforts to thin her impressive wardrobe has resulted in the WWE Superstar donating 200 items of clothing to a shelter. 

    On her Instagram Stories, Flair noted that her closet was getting out of hand. Rather than just throw away items of clothing, the former WWE Women\’s Champion donated 200 pieces to a local women\’s and children\’s shelter in an incredible act of generosity. Flair also shared a before and after photo to show the difference to her closet. 

    Charlotte Flair\’s WWE Status

    During the latter part of her December 9, match with Asuka, Flair was hurt and was seen being tended to by WWE\’s medical crew after the match. The injury happened when Flair came off the top rope at an awkward angle and her legs bounced off the ropes. Despite this, Flair was able to finish the match that saw Asuka get the victory. 

    This injury wasn\’t enough to keep Charlotte from supporting her husband Andrade at a CMLL event, in what would be one of the former NXT Champion\’s final appearances before returning to WWE. In January, Flair had knee surgery and has been showing significant improvements. 

    What\’s Next for the Queen? 

    Charlotte was recently spotted at the WWE Performance Center with John Cena, which many have taken as a good indicator of her health. With that said, Flair is still expected to miss months of action, and will likely miss SummerSlam 2024 as well as WrestleMania 40. Next month\’s Showcase of the Immortals will have some \’flair\’ as Charlotte will be making an appearance at the WWE World experience in Philadelphia. 

  • A Five-Star Idea? Kenny Omega Considering Rating Matches on Twitch Amid AEW Hiatus

    Kenny Omega could put his wrestling knowledge to use by ranking matches on Twitch amid his current absence from AEW. 

    The former AEW World Champion has been missing from AEW programming since late 2023 after being diagnosed with diverticulitis. At first, Omega believed he was dealing with a hernia, before receiving the accurate and alarming diagnosis. Despite recently being advertised for upcoming AEW events in his native Canada, there\’s no timeline for when fans should expect Omega back in the ring. 

    Kenny Omega on Twitch? 

    While Omega hasn\’t been competing, the AEW EVP has remained active on Twitch where fans can find him playing video games and sharing updates about his life and condition. Taking to Twitter, Omega said he\’s thinking about delivering match ratings. the Cleaner admitted that the idea of rating matches may rub some fans the wrong way. 

    Omega\’s Many Stars

    Kenny Omega isn\’t rating matches yet but the former AEW World Champion knows all about giving high-star performances. Omega currently has 25 matches rated five or more stars by the Wrestling Observer\’s Dave Meltzer. 12 of these matches surpassed the five-star scale. His highest rated match took place at Dominion 6.9 in Osaka-jo Hall and saw Omega and Kazuchika Okada give a seven-star performance. 

    What\’s Next?

    It\’s ironic that Okada and Omega had the seven-star match as it seems the pair will face off nice more. On last week\’ AEW Dynamite, the Young Bucks fired Omega as a member of the Elite. That same show saw Okada debut and align with the Bucks, seemingly replacing Omega in the role. 

  • Adam Copeland Continues to Tease A Big Surprise For Christian Cage I-Quit Match

    AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage is in for a world of hurt when he next faces Adam Copeland if the Rated-R Star is to be believed. 

    Since arriving in AEW at WrestleDream, the WWE Hall of Famer has feuded with his former friend. At AEW Worlds End, Cage captured the TNT Championship from Cage, his first title victory since 2011. Unfortunately for Copeland, his reign was short-lived as Killswitch would attack him from behind and gift his guaranteed TNT title shot to Cage who promptly won the gold back. 

    Copeland\’s Surprise for Christian Cage

    On the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite, Copeland ambushed Cage and challenged him to an I-Quit natch for the TNT Championship for the March 20, episode. The choice of date is no coincidence, as the show will take place in Toronto, Canada. 

    On the March 9, edition of AEW Collision, Copeland once again got the better of Cage and the Patriarchy. He also teased having a surprise for Cage when they next face for the TNT Championship. Taking to Twitter, Copeland continued to tease having something special for his former friend. 

    What\’s Next?

    Hopefully, Copeland\’s surprise will help nullify the numbers advantage that the Patriarchy gives the reigning AEW TNT Champion. In addition to Killswitch, Cage has Nick Wayne at his beck and call, as well as Mama Wayne. Copeland has some allies of his own in AEW, including Darby Allin and FTR. 

  • Jay Lethal Paid Tribute To His Recently Passed Mother On 3/9 AEW Collision

    A recent AEW Collision match featuring Jay Lethal saw a tribute to the wrestler\’s mother who sadly passed away very recently. 

    On last week\’s episode of Collision, Lethal teamed with Mark Briscoe and Jeff Jarrett to face the House of Black in a street fight. The match saw the House of Black get the win after Malakai Black put Briscoe through a flaming table. 

    Jay Lethal\’s Tribute

    Those who watched the Collision match closely may have noticed an armband worn by Jay Lethal. This is because Lethal\’s mother Shirley Shipman passed away on February 29, PW Insider has learned. A celebration of her life will take place at the Nesbitt Funeral Home tomorrow in Elizabeth, New Jersey. More information can be found here.

    A Family Affair

    Shirley Shipman, like her husband Ron, was deeply supportive of their son\’s pursuit of wrestling glory. The Shipman\’s even got involved from time to time in their son\’s career. During a 2012 ROH show, Lethal challenged Kevin Steen (now Owens) for the ROH World Championship. During the match, Steen antagonized the Shipman\’s who were sat at ringside by biting Jay. Ron fired back by throwing his drink at the Canadian, prompting Steen to spit in Shirley\’s face. This exchange would fire up Jay to the delight of the crowd. 

    During a JAPW show, Lethal and his father were outnumbered by heels for a six man tag where Ron was to team with his son against Steve Corino, Ricky Landell and Rick Silver. Shirley came out to proclaim that they had a partner before introducing Charlie Haas. 

    We at SE Scoops would like to extend our deepest condolences to Jay and his family at this very sad time.

  • John Cena Comes Clean About His Life-Long Lie: \”I\’m Visible, People Can See Me\”

    WWE\’s own John Cena has revealed the truth that he\’s buried for decades behind a lie; that he is visible and that fans can indeed see him. 

    Despite being one of WWE\’s most prominently featured Superstars for years, Cena\’s catchphrase \’You Can\’t See Me\’ would become synonymous with Big Match John. The line has since branched off into a meme among fans who pretend not to be able to see Cena when he makes appearances both in and out of the ring. 

    John Cena Comes Clean

    During a recent interview with MTV\’s Josh Horowitz, Cena and Ricky Stanicky co-star Zac Efron were asked whether they\’ve ever lied in an interview. Cena (admittedly tongue-in-cheek) used the question to make his stark confession. 

    \”[I lie in interviews] All the time. I don’t think there’s an ounce of truth in anything I’ve said. Ever. I’m living in a lie. I’m living a whole lie. I think I’m visible. I think people can see me.\”

    The topic of dishonesty is a pivotal part of Ricky Stanicky. The film tells the story of friends who in their youth made up a fake friend (the titular Stanicky) to get our of trouble and obligations. Now grown up, the friends are confronted about Stanicky and hire an actor [Cena] to bring their fake friend to life. 

    What\’s Next for John Cena? 

    Should the fans forgive Cena for his years of lying, the WWE Universe may indeed see John at WrestleMania 40. Cena is eager to do something at WWE\’s annual two-night Showcase, though there are no confirmed plans for Big Match John publicly known at this time. 

  • RVD Says It\’s Cool That Paul Heyman Is Getting His Flowers Ahead Of WWE HOF Induction

    Former WWE and ECW World Champion Rob Van Dam is pleased that Paul Heyman is getting his proverbial \’flowers\’ with his upcoming Hall of Fame induction. 

    Earlier this month, it was announced that Heyman will be inducted as part of this year\’s class on April 5. The honor is richly deserved for Heyman, who has excelled in various roles in wrestling. In addition to being Roman Reigns\’ special counsel, Heyman has managed others, worked as a commentator, a writer, and ran ECW during the company\’s peak.

    Rob Van Dam on Paul Heyman\’s Induction

    Few names did better under the watchful eye than RVD, who became a success in both the original ECW and WWE. In a recent interview with Wrestle Binge, the former World Champion was pleased that Heyman is getting his due. 

    \”It’s pretty cool they’re giving him his flowers because he was the man. He was the one that made ECW happen… he’s the guy that made everything possible.\”

    RVD also heralded Heyman\’s work in WWE and recalled many in the company being opposed to Paul at first due to his ECW history. 

    \”When I was there back then… he didn’t get a lot of respect in the way of the other agents didn’t like ECW, were trying to fight it, didn’t want it to come in. They were giving him a hard time.\”

    Van Dam concluded by stating that ECW became a success of Heyman\’s leadership, braveness, and passion, and is pleased to see the sacrifices Heyman has made pay off. 

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    Heyman will be part of what is shaping up to be a star-studded class of inductees. Bull Nakano will be inducted this year. The former WWF Women\’s Champion had a successful run in and out of WWE and is currently the commissioner of Bushiroad. The US Express will also be inducted as part of this year\’s class. 

    H/T – Fightful

  • WWE Megastars Collide: The Rock & John Cena Reunite Backstage At 2024 Oscars

    WWE\’s own John Cena was able to reunite with Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson following the 16-time World Champion\’s viral appearance at the 2024 Oscars. 

    Cena was on hand to present the award for \’Best Costume\’ but was hardly dressed for the occasion. In a throwback to the 1974 ceremony that saw a streaker interrupt a speech by David Niven, Cena appeared in the \’nude\’ and covered his unmentionables with a large envelope. During a video package for the nominees, Cena and co-host Jimmy Kimmel were able to fashion a makeshift outfit for the WWE megastar turned Hollywood powerhouse. 

    John Cena & The Rock Reunite

    Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson was also present for this year\’s Oscars as he presented an award with fellow WWE alum Bad Bunny. In a photo shared online, Cena can be seen greeting his friend and former WrestleMania rival. 

    What\’s Next? 

    The Rock will make his return to the ring at WrestleMania 40: Saturday. He will team with Roman Reigns to face Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins. Should The Bloodline win, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match the next night will be under \’Bloodline Rules.\’ Should Rhodes and Rollins win, then the Bloodline will not be involved in the next night\’s main event. 

    As for John Cena, his future in WWE remains unclear. Cena is hoping to do something at WrestleMania, but no plans have been confirmed for the 16-time WWE World Champion. Cena was part of last year\’s WrestleMania event where he lost to then-U.S. Champion Austin Theory in the Saturday opener. 

  • WWE\’s Naomi & Zelina Vega Pay Tribute to Late Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama At Live Event

    The Superstars of WWE paid a touching tribute to Akira Toriyama at a recent live event, following the manga titan\’s death at the age of 68. 

    Toriyama\’s death was announced last week. He had suffered an acute subdural hematoma, which is a type of bleeding near the brain, his studio reported. Toriyama is best known for creating the manga hit Dragon Ball, which has spawned shows, movies, video games, and more. The main series follows Goku and his efforts to collect the titular Dragon Balls to protect the Earth. 

    WWE Tributes to Akira Toriyama

    At a recent WWE live event, WWE\’s Zelina Vega and Naomi paid a special tribute to Toriyama while in the ring. The pair performed a \’Fusion\’ move from Dragon Ball. In the hit series, this allows two characters to \’fuse\’ and become even more powerful than as two individuals. On Twitter, Vega shared the spot in question. 

    In a tweet of her own, Naomi said she was \”fused for life\” with her \”sis\” Vega. When a fan pointed out that the fusion in the show only lasts for 30 minutes, Naomi admitted that she\’s still learning about Dragon Ball. 

    Zelina Vega and Dragon Ball

    While Naomi is a newbie to the world of Dragon Ball, Vega\’s love for the series can\’t be denied. At WWE Money in the Bank 2023, Vega wore an attire referencing series villain Frieza, but was unsuccessful in the Women\’s Money in the Bank ladder match that was won by reigning WWE Women\’s Champion IYO SKY. 

  • Paul Heyman Tells All On Previously Turning Down the WWE Hall of Fame

    Paul Heyman has shared why he turned down the WWE Hall of Fame ahead of his induction the night before WrestleMania 40. 

    Earlier this month, it was announced that Heyman will be inducted as part of this year\’s class on April 5. The honor is richly-deserved for Heyman, who has excelled in various roles in wrestling. In addition to being Roman Reigns\’ special counsel, Heyman has managed others, worked as a commentator, a writer, and ran ECW during the company\’s peak.

    Turning Down the WWE HOF

    While Heyman will be inducted this year, the Bloodline\’s spokesman has turned the honor down in the past. Sitting down with TMZ Sports, Heyman explained his reasoning for why he didn\’t want to be inducted years earlier during his run with Brock Lesnar. 

    \”If I had accepted the award while I was The Advocate for Brock Lesnar and none of my work with Roman Reigns and The Bloodline was part of my Hall of Fame induction, then by now, we’d be sitting there saying, ‘Oh, how did we induct him five years ago and missed this whole chapter of his career.\’”

    The only flaw of Heyman\’s plan, as he pointed out in the interview, is that he has no plans on wrapping up his career despite his impending induction. 

    \”Roman Reigns and I are not going anywhere. We plan on sticking around. He will continue to be the reigning defending Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion in the greatest title run of all time.\”

    WWE Hall of Fame 2024

    Heyman will be part of what is shaping up to be a star-studded class of inductees. Bull Nakano will be inducted this year. The former WWF Women\’s Champion had a successful run in and out of WWE and is currently the commissioner of Bushiroad. The US Express will also be inducted as part of this year\’s class. 

  • Watch: Seth Rollins Triumphant in First Match Back From Torn MCL Injury

    Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins\’ return to the ring proved to be a triumphant night for the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion. 

    In January, Rollins suffered an injury during a title defense on Monday Night Raw against Jinder Mahal. Despite this setback, Rollins has continued to appear on WWE programming. The Architect has become an ally of Cody Rhodes in the American Nightmare\’s war with The Bloodline. 

    Seth Rollins Returns to the Ring

    At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rollins shared the news that he was very close to being cleared to wrestle. At last night\’s WWE live event in Alexandria, LA, Rollins competed for the first time in close to two months. The World Heavyweight Champion teamed with Cody Rhodes to defeat Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. Rollins would pick up the win for his team with a stomp on Jimmy Uso.

    What\’s Next? 

    Rollins will make up for lost time at WrestleMania 40 by competing twice at the Showcase of the Immortals. Rollins and Rhodes will team again to face Roman Reigns and The Rock on WrestleMania 40: Saturday. If Rhodes & Rollins win, there will be no Bloodline presence during the Sunday main event between Reigns and Rhodes. Should the Bloodline win, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship match will be under \’Bloodline Rules.\’

    The next night, Rollins will defend the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre. The Scottish Warrior and self-professed \’savior\’ of WrestleMania earned a title match by winning the 2024 Men\’s Elimination Chamber match.

  • Watch: Michael ‘Venom’ Page Makes Epic Undertaker Entrance At UFC 299

    UFC fighter Michael \’Venom\’ Page made quite the impression at UFC 299 with an epic tribute to WWE\’s \’Phenom\’ The Undertaker.

    UFC 299 took place on March 9, 2024, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. To the backdrop of speculation about the much-anticipated UFC 300 show, UFC 299 was headlined by Sean O\’Malley vs. Marlon Vera. Though Vera won their first encounter at UFC 252 in August 2020, this week\’s event saw O\’Malley get the win a unanimous decision victory after five rounds. 

    Page\’s Undertaker Entrance

    Michael \’Venom\’ Page, also known as MVP, arrived to his fight with Ken Holland to the iconic theme song of The Undertaker. While he didn\’t don the Deadman\’s trademark coat and hat, Page wore a black cloak for this portion of his entrance. You can see Page\’s entrance down below. 

    Not only did Page make an Undertaker-themed entrance, but he also matched the Deadman\’s dominance in the cage as he\’d win the fight via decision in the third round. 

    Wrestling Themes and UFC

    At UFC 276, Israel Adesanya went one further, using an entrance based on The Undertaker. In addition to using the Phenom\’s theme song, Adesanya wore an Undertaker-themed hat and solemnly walked to the cage with an urn. At that same event, Jessica Rose-Clark would walk to the cage for her fight to the theme of one of The Undertaker\’s greatest rivals: Shawn Michaels.

    More recently, Chris Curtis used Adam Copeland\’s theme at UFC 297.  When the UFC returned to Calgary, Alberta in July 2018, it was fitting that Ion Cutelaba walked out to Bret Hart\’s WWE theme

  • The Heir Apparent! Michael Cole Sees Corey Graves As The Future of WWE Broadcasting

    Fans should get used to hearing Michael Cole on commentary for years to come, at least if Michael Cole is to be believed. 

    Cole has been with WWE for close to three decades after joining the promotion in 1997 on the recommendation of Todd Pettengill. A former war correspondent, Cole\’s career in WWE has seen him call the action at countless events, enjoy a brief heel run, and even get a win at WrestleMania 27. 

    The Heir Apparent

    With decades in the industry, Cole has developed a keen eye for what works and what doesn\’t at the commentary table. In a recent interview with Awful Announcing, the veteran spoke about Corey Graves\’ journey in WWE thus far and teaching him the proverbial ropes. 

    \”[It was] a matter of giving him the opportunity to sit side by side for many years, to watch, learn, study, and see how I do things.\”

    Cole added that he is pleased that Graves was given the opportunity and sees a very bright future for the SmackDown commentator.

    “And at the end of the day, when we gave him the shot? He’s been killing it. I believe he’s the heir apparent.”

    Corey Graves

    While Cole sees Graves as his heir, the 40-year-old is hardly a newbie to the commentary desk. After his in-ring retirement in 2014, Graves joined the NXT commentary team before being moved to the Raw desk in 2016. Graves current calls the action on SmackDown alongside Wade Barrett.

  • Eddie Kingston Doesn\’t Regret His \”Whatever\” Attitude to WWE Tryout

    AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston may not have made it big in WWE, but the Mad King isn\’t going to lose sleep over it. 

    Before AEW was launched in 2019, Kingston had an ultimately unsuccessful try out with WWE. Speaking to Inside the Ropes recently, Kingston recalled his \’attitude\’ when stepping foot in the Performance Center. 

    \”A friend of mine hooked me up with it… but I went there with this attitude of \’whatever f**k it, I don\’t really care.\’ I didn\’t really care, I was like \’they\’re not looking at me anyway.\”

    Kingston added that at the time, WWE were more interested in hiring female talent for the Mae Young Classic. The all-female tournament meant Kingston walked in believing he had slim chances of being signed. 

    Another WWE Offer

    Kingston didn\’t receive a WWE talent contract, but the company saw something in him, as he was approached about being a coach. During the interview, Kingston explained that he turned the offer down as the role didn\’t suit him. Kingston also recalled being approached by his old friend Kevin Owens and how that made a lot of people take notice. 

    \”As soon as they saw me say hello to Kevin Owens and he gave me a hug, and a couple of other people that were there, next thing you know the next day everybody was my friend.\”

    No Regrets

    Looking back on his try out, Kingston had no issue with how things went. He explained that he already had a number of independent bookings on the horizon that would have paid him good money. Things would work out for Kingston, who in addition to his AEW gold in the NJPW Strong Champion and the reigning ROH World Champion. 

    H/T – Wrestling Inc

  • WWE Files Trademark For Shawn Spears As Ex-AEW Star Continues to Make Waves in NXT

    WWE\’s latest trademark filings have shown that the promotion is serious about keeping Shawn Spears around following his recent return to the promotion. 

    Spears returned to WWE last month as part of the NXT brand, five years almost to the day that he left the promotion in February 2019. Spears returned by attacking Ridge Holland. On this week\’s episode of WWE NXT, Spears defeated Uriah Connors in the on-screen debut of the recently renamed Brogan Finlay. 

    Shawn Spears is Locked In

    WWE has now filed to trademark the Shawn Spears name, confirming that he will use this name going forward and ditch the Tye Dillinger moniker. The trademark filing covers the use of the Shawn Spears moniker for use at wrestling events and through broadcast media. It also covers the use of the name online in the field of \’Sports Entertainment.\’

    More Trademark Filings

    Shawn Spears isn\’t the only WWE Superstar to get his name trademarked. WWE has also filed for the name of fellow WWE NXT Superstar Dijak. The former Retribution member has been making waves as part of the gold brand and is one of the more prominently featured Superstars appearing on Tuesday nights. 

    WWE has also filed a trademark for the name of WWE SmackDown Superstar Berto. The young wrestler has undergone several name alterations throughout his career. He debuted as Humberto Carrillo, which was later shortened to Humberto. He would later get his last name back before it was shortened again and has since be shortened further to just Berto. 

  • AEW Had A Different Original Plan For Sting\’s Final Entrance At Revolution 2024

    AEW rolled out the red carpet for Sting at Revolution 2024, but there was a different plan for the Icon\’s final entrance as a professional wrestler. 

    In the main event of AEW\’s pay-per-view, Sting and Darby Allin retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. This win means that Sting has ended his AEW career undefeated. 

    After the show, Sting spoke passionately to the fans in attendance and was grateful for all the support he has been shown during his retirement tour and throughout his professional wrestling career. 

    A Different Entrance for Sting

    For Sting\’s entrance, the legend\’s sons Steven and Garrett Borden accompanied their father to the ring. Steven was dressed in the red and black of nWo Wolfpac era Sting while Garrett wore the Surfer Sting attire worn at Great American Bash 1990. 

    The presence of the brothers made the match extra special but this entrance was nearly different. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Steven explained that he was originally going to portray the black and white \’Crow Sting\’ fans are most accustomed to. 

    \”The plan actually until the very end… was for me to just do Crow Sting. So Garrett was going to be Surfer, I was going to be Crow…. There was never contention over who was going to do what.\”

    Steven added that it was Darby Allin who pointed out that Sting was already in his black-and-white attire and believed the Revolution show proved the perfect time to mix things up. 

    \”Darby actually made a point to my dad maybe a week or so before the match going, \’well, you know, don\’t you think if Garrett\’s going to be Surfer, Steven\’s going to be Crow, and then you\’re also going to be Crow this is an opportunity to mix it up a little bit?\’\”

  • Stephanie Vaquer Wins NJPW Strong Women\’s Title from Giulia Amid WWE Interest in Ex-Champion

    The NJPW Strong Women\’s Championship reign of Giulia has come to an end amid speculation that the former champion could soon be heading to WWE. 

    At the second day of the STARDOM Cinderella Tournament event, Stephanie Vaquer defeated Gulia to win the gold. The finish of the match saw Vaquer catch Giulia with a DDT and snag the win, and the title, with a clutch pin. 

    This win was a long time coming for Vaquer, who competed in the tournament to crown the first NJPW Strong Women\’s Champion in 2023. In that tournament, Vaquer, representing CMLL, would lose to Mercedes Mone in the semi-finals. 

    What\’s Next for Giulia? 

    The end of Giulia\’s record-breaking 249-day reign comes at an interesting time for the young wrestler. Giulia has made clear to NJPW that she will be leaving the promotion this month when her contract expires. It is believed that she will join WWE when the time is right. WWE is said to have a massive interest in adding Giulia to its women\’s division. She was expected to attend a training session at WWE\’s Performance Center in late 2023 but that didn\’t ultimately happen. 

    Stephanie Vaquer: The Belt Collector

    This isn\’t the only title that Vaquer currently holds. In CMLL, she is the promotion\’s reigning World Women\’s Champion and has held the title since September of last year. She is also one-half of the CMLL World Women\’s Tag Team Champion alongside Zeuxis. The pair are the inaugural champions and have also held the gold since September of last year.  

  • Otis Feared the Ring Would Collapse While Waiting for 2020 Women\’s Royal Rumble Spot

    Otis was happy to save Mandy Rose during the 2020 Women\’s Royal Rumble match but had serious concerns about being under the ring during the bout itself. 

    The match in question saw Rose enter from the #8 spot. After eliminating Mercedes Matinez, Rose herself was thrown over the top rope. Fortunately for the future NXT Women\’s Champion, Otis, her on-screen love interest, was under the ring and she landed on him, meaning her feet didn\’t hit the floor. 

    Otis On The Royal Rumble Spot

    Four years on, the spot is fondly remembered by fans as a unique, entertaining moment that has yet to be duplicated.  During an interview with Fightful, Otis recalled being under the ring during the match and fearing the worst was going to happen. 

    \”I had never been under the ring before. I remember going like, ‘it sounds like it’s going to break.’ Our ring guy Nick goes, ‘Imagine when I’m down here and you’re up there buddy. Then it’s going to really break.’\”

    For company, Otis had a monitor so he could track the match and know when exactly he needed to appear. Otis also had a \’pee bottle\’ while under the ring, stating that \”you never know.\”

    What Came Next? 

    Otis and Rose\’s on-screen relationship reached its peak at WrestleMania 36 when the Alpha Academy member defeated Dolph Ziggler. Otis and his \’peach\’ would share a post-match kiss. 

    Unfortunately, the pairing would be short-lived after that. Rose would be moved to Raw that same year, ending her relationship with Otis in the process. The year would go from bad to worse for the big man, who would lose his Money in the Bank contract to The Miz after being betrayed by then tag-team partner Tucker.

  • AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament to Begin on 3/16 Collision

    The tournament to crown the next AEW World Tag Team Champions will officially begin on next week\’s episode of Collision, it has been confirmed. 

    At AEW Revolution 2024, Sting and Darby Allin defeated the Young Bucks to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championships. This match marked the final bout of Sting\’s legendary career. During the post-show media scrum, Tony Khan announced that the titles had been vacated. This decision was reiterated during the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite in which Allin surrendered his AEW World Tag Team Championship. 

    AEW World Tag Titles Tournament

    It has been confirmed that the Young Bucks will be a part of the tournament, as well as Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta. On this week\’s episode of AEW Collision, two-time former AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR also officially declared for the tournament. Tony Schiavone added that the tournament will begin in one week\’s time on the March 16, episode of Collision. 

    FTR\’s promo would be interrupted by The Infantry. The pairing of Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean also alluded to potentially being in the tournament to crown the next AEW World Tag Team Champions. 

    The AEW World Tag Team Titles

    FTR and the Young Bucks share the record for the most AEW World Tag Team title reigns with two each. The Bucks hold the record for the longest individual reign, with their first lasting an impressive 302 days. The Bucks also hold the distinction for being the lightest champions, weighing in collectively at 350lbs. 

    Sting and Darby Allin\’s 25-day reign with the titles is the shortest in AEW history and the Icon holds the distinction of being the oldest champion (at 64.) Four decades his junior, Jungle Boy became the youngest champion at 24 when he and Luchasaurus won the gold in January 2022. 

  • Watch: John Cena Reveals VERY Guilty Pleasure Movie In Hilarious New Interview

    WWE\’s own John Cena had a lot of fun during a recent interview in which he disclosed a very guilty pleasure of a movie he\’s seen. 

    The interview in question saw Cena and his Ricky Stanicky co-stars Zac Efron and Jermaine Fowler discuss whether a film can be classed as a \’guilty pleasure.\’ While Efron suggested Finding Nemo, Cena, and Fowler argued that the animated flick is a great movie and Zac has nothing to feel guilty about.

    Cena then gave his suggestion of a guilty pleasure movie which was \’Behind the Green Door.\’ Cena watched on to see if anyone knew what he was talking about though neither Efron, Fowler, nor the interviewer were aware of the film. That\’s probably for the best as a member of the filming crew who googled the title learned that \’Behind the Green Door\’ is a 1972 hardcore pornography film. As the crew laughed, John defended himself as a fan of the \’classics.\’

    John Cena\’s Raunchier Side

    While John was a clean-cut babyface during his days as a full-time WWE Superstar, the 16-time World Champion has been able to show a more risque side in recent years. To promote Ricky Stanicky, John Cena launched an OnlyFans page which is free for fans to subscribe to. John is having fun subverting expectations on the page, as those eager to see him be creampied, engage in teabagging, and more may be disappointed with the literal take he has given these sexual acts. 

    Ricky Stanicky was released this week on Amazon Prime. 

  • Paramore At WrestleMania? Hayley Williams Gives WWE Star Permission to Use Song

    WWE WrestleMania 40 could see music from rock sensations Paramore if the band\’s lead singer Hayley Williams has her way. 

    WrestleMania 40 will take place in just four weeks time from the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. The show will be the fifth-annual WrestleMania to take place across two nights, a tradition that bean thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

    Paramore and WrestleMania? 

    Last month, A movement began on social media for Paramore to perform at WrestleMania 40. This caught the attention of Bayley, who expressed her support for the fan campaign.

    Now, the 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble winner has once again taken to social media, this time with a message from the band itself. Bayley shared a video of Paramore lead singer Hayley Williams who made clear that she was aware of wrestling fans wanting Paramore at WrestleMania. Williams gave the Role Model permission to use the band\’s hit \’Simmer\’ for her entrance next month. 

    ”Bayley says ‘Dude, I wanna play Simmer for my entrance at WrestleMania.’ You have our permission, that’s sick, holy s***.”

    Bayley and Paramore

    The Role Model is a huge fan of Paramore and has made no secret of her devotion. In 2018, Bayley wore a Paramore-themed attire for WWE Evolution, the company\’s first (and to date, only) event to feature an all-female card. Bayley teamed with Sasha Banks and Natalya to defeat the Riott Squad at the event. 

    Bayley at WrestleMania 40

    Paramore or no Paramore, Bayley will compete for the WWE Women\’s Championship at WrestleMania 40. The Role Model will challenge former Damage CTRL ally IYO SKY who has held the title since SummerSlam 2023. This will mark Bayley\’s first singles match at the Show Of Shows. 

  • McKenzie Mitchell\’s Musical Move: Ex-NXT Name Lands Role in \’The Last Match\’ Show

    McKenzie Mitchell may no longer be a part of WWE, but the former interviewer has landed on her feet with a new musical role. 

    Mitchell was released from WWE in December of last year in a shock to fans as she had been a regular presence on programming right until her exit. WWE NXT head Shawn Michaels would later say he was sad to see her cut and that he hadn\’t been part of the decision. WWE Superstars also shared their support to Mitchell, the wife of WWE NXT commentator Vic Joseph. 

    McKenzie Mitchell\’s Musical Move 

    Mitchell will be a part of \’The Last Match,\’ a new rock musical centered on professional wrestling. On Twitter, Mitchell, in character as commentator Scarlett Sublime, shared her excitement for the project.

    The Last Match

    Mitchell won\’t be the only notable name on stage for The Last Match. Popular Wrestling YouTube personality Simon Miller will be portraying Alexander Swagger. In addition to his work online, Miller has also gotten in the ring from time to time, including at IMPACT Wrestling\’s Turning Point show last year. 

    The show\’s inaugural performance will take place on April 26, from the Temple in Rochester, New York. The show tells the story of Ben Vengeance who is walking into his final wrestling pay-per-view event to challenge for the BTD Championship held by Swagger/Miller. 

    For more information about The Last Match, including news on tickets and how to buy them, click here. 

  • \”The Best is Yet to Come!\” Mike Santana Grateful to Fans & Ortiz After AEW Exit

    Mike Santana has shared his gratitude to the fans, Ortiz, and others following the Inner Circle alum\’s exit from AEW.

    Earlier this month, . The tag-team specialist had been with the company since 2019 and had been a regular fixture of programming during the days of the Inner Circle. 

    Mike Santana is Grateful

    Taking to Twitter, Santana reflected on his exit from AEW. The wrestler was immensely grateful for the opportunities he received in the company. 

    ”Took a few days to reflect and I can’t tell you how truly blessed and grateful I feel. It’s been 5 years full of ups and downs, but above all it taught me so much about myself and this business. I’m thankful for the opportunity I was given to be a part of history at the ground level. I can say that I’ll forever be a part of that legacy right at day one. But as you know, there comes a time in life where you have to make decisions and take a bet on yourself. We only get one chance at this life thing and life is about taking risks.

    You’ll never know your true potential unless you really put it to work. I’m a big believer in “When one door closes, a bigger door opens”, and im so excited for what the future holds for me. With that being said, I want to thank God and my father for continuing to guide me. My family for their endless support.”

    ”All the fans who have backed me endlessly no matter what. To Ortiz, for the years. And AEW for the knowledge and opportunity.

    \”I TOLD YOU THE BEST IS YET TO COME!\”

    While Santana is gone from AEW, fans can still find him in other promotions. He is the current House of Glory World Champion. 

  • Who Made the Call for Kazuchika Okada to Debut As A Heel in AEW?

    Kazuchika Okada is in AEW and is a heel, and this creative direction came from those at the very top of the company. 

    The Rainmaker made his much-anticipated debut as an AEW wrestler on this week\’s edition of Dynamite. While it has been rumored that he\’d be joining WWE and potentially starting in NXT, it was reported last month that Okada had signed with AEW. His arrival on Dynamite came less than a month after Okada finished his lengthy career with New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

    Kazuchika Okada Joins The Elite

    Okada\’s debut this week saw him tease aligning with Eddie Kingston who was on the show to confront the Young Bucks. Instead, Okada attacked Kingston, certifying his role as a heel and shook hands with the AEW EVPs. With Kenny Omega fired as a member of The Elite during the same segment, Okada has seemingly replaced the absent former World Champion. 

    There was no hesitation in bringing in Okada as a heel, Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports. All parties involved, that being the Bucks, Okada, and Tony Khan agreed that being a heel was the better fit, especially given his original big run in Japan being as a playboy heel. The idea that he should start as a heel came directly from Khan. Multiple sources confirmed that Okada has immense trust in the AEW President\’s vision. 

    What\’s Next?

    Okada competed in a six-man-tag at this week\’s AEW Collision tapings, which will air tonight. SI reports that all indicators are that Okada will feud with Kenny Omega once the Canadian wrestler is ready to wrestle again. 

  • Jim Ross Says \”It’s Time To Move On\” From Vince McMahon Amid Disturbing Allegations

    It\’s time for the wrestling world to move on from Vincent Kennedy McMahon, at least according to AEW commentator and ex-McMahon employee Jim Ross. 

    McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 due to the shocking allegations made against him in Janel Grant\’s lawsuit. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused by McMahon and was trafficked to other influential men in the company. Brock Lesnar is suspected to be one of the alleged men, resulting in the Beast being pulled from all WWE plans. 

    Vince McMahon\’s Response

    McMahon has claimed that the litigation is rife with fabrications and has claimed he is completely innocent. Former WWE executive John Laurinaitis, who is named in the suit, has claimed he is a victim, not a predator, in this situation. Brock Lesnar has not commented publicly on the allegation against him. 

    Jim Ross Weighs In

    Ross worked closely with McMahon for decades and in addition to being a commentator, served as WWE\’s Head of Talent Relations for years. On a recent edition of his Grilling JR podcast, Ross spoke about McMahon\’s sullen exit from the company he created. 

     \”I’m tired of it. It’s embarrassing in a lot of ways that it’s happened this way. It’s affected a lot of innocent people. That’s my take on it.\”

    Ross added that he hopes the wrestling world can look to the future and leave the alleged activity of McMahon in the past. 

    \”It’s time to move on. It’s time to move on and cause some rest and peace for some people and it’s time to move on in my opinion.\”

    H/T – POST Wrestling