SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Sting, Darby Allin, Ric Flair & Others Gifted Engraved Black Baseball Bats at AEW Revolution

    The icon known as Sting, alongside others, was gifted a commemorative, engraved baseball bat to mark the end of his in-ring career at the AEW Revolution 2024 event. 

    Back in October of last year, Sting announced he would be retiring at the Revolution pay-per-view. Choosing Revolution as the event to end his career was a significant one for the Stinger, who made his wrestling debut for AEW at the very same event in 2021. 

    It was fitting that Sting\’s retirement took place in Greensboro, North Carolina, a city he competed in countless times during his days with the NWA and World Championship Wrestling. 

    Honoring Wrestling Royalty

    The Greensboro Coliseum Complex was pleased to gift Sting an engraved black baseball bat, complete with his name as well as the name and date of AEW Revolution 2024. 

    The Icon wasn\’t the only one to receive a gift, as Tony Khan, Darby Allin, Ric Flair, the \’Greensboro G.O.A.T\’ Tony Schiavone, and the \’Hall of Fame Voice of Wrestling\’ Jim Ross also received a commemorative bat. 

    Sting and the Greensboro Coliseum

    Sting has a handful of memories inside the Greensboro Coliseum ahead of his final match. The Icon was the cornerman for Lex Luger at WrestleWar 1990.

    In the main event of the show, Luger unsuccessfully challenged NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair, who was accompanied by Woman.

    In the main event of the December 22, 2021, edition of AEW Dynamite, Sting teamed with CM Punk and Darby Allin to defeat MJF and FTR. 

  • AEW Revolution 2024: Backstage News on Kyle O\’Reilly\’s Return

    Kyle O\’Reilly has made his return to AEW programming but things may be much different for him now he\’s back. 

    O\’Reilly appeared at AEW Revolution 2023 following Roderick Strong\’s International Title win over Orange Cassidy. Despite his ties with Strong, O\’Reilly didn\’t seem aligned with his Undisputed Era alum. At first, he appeared to stalk Strong before embracing and would walk away from the Undisputed Kingdom when they offered him a shirt. 

    In a backstage exclusive, O\’Reilly spoke with Lexy Nair and shared his thoughts on his return. 

    Kyle O\’Reilly\’s Return

    O\’Reilly\’s journey back to AEW has been a long road, to say the least, after he underwent neck fusion surgery in late 2022. There were times during his absence when the company operated on the possibility that he may have never been able to return, Fightful Select reports. By late 2023 however, AEW was said to be optimistic about his comeback. 

    Several viewers saw O\’Reilly traveling into town, and word of his return was known within AEW. However, some thought it would happen further into March instead of at Revolution.

    What\’s Next for Kyle O\’Reilly? 

    Kyle O\’Reilly appeared at AEW Revolution 2024 with a new look and Fightful was told that there are other elements that will be different for him. It had been expected that O\’Reilly would have been part of the Undisputed Kingdom reveal but a different plan has been in the works for him for month. 

    Adding Bobby Fish? 

    With Kyle O\’Reilly\’s return, three-quarters of the Undisputed Era are once again on AEW programming. The report notes that AEW hasn\’t had any recent talks with Bobby Fish for him to come and join the group. Fish had been with AEW but left in 2022. He would later join IMPACT (now TNA) Wrestling. 

  • AEW Revolution 2024: Blackpool Combat Club Pays Tribute to the Road Warriors

    The Blackpool Combat Club hoped to channel the intensity of the Road Warriors at the AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view. 

    The much-anticipated tag-team match with FTR was the fifth match on the main card and the seventh match of the evening if you include the pre-show. The Blackpool Combat Club was represented by Claudio Castagnoli and Jon Moxley and wasted no time in paying tribute to the legendary tag team. During their entrance, the duo wore spiked shoulder pads similar to what fans had seen for years from Road Warrior Hawk and Road Warrior Animal.

    BCC Vs. FTR

    While the action started slow between these two methodical teams, it quickly descended into a brawl, including one spot where Moxley mocked Cash Wheeler after sending him outside the ring, telling him \”I don\’t think you\’re sh*t!\”

    While it was the BCC with the Road Warrior homage, FTR attempted to hit the Doomsday Device on Castagnoli, who was able to escape. The BCC duo would hit a successful Doomsday Device later on.

    The finish of the match saw Mox hit the Death Rider on Dax, who was able to kick out. Moxley then slapped on the rear choke and Wheeler\’s attempts to interfere were thwarted by Castagnoli. This would see the Blackpool Combat Club get the win. 

    Who Has Rocked the Pads? 

    The BCC isn\’t the first set of wrestlers outside the Road Warriors to have donned the iconic spiked shoulder pads. For WrestleMania 13 in 1997, Ahmed Johnson donned the pads to team with the Road Warriors for their Street Fight with the Nation of Domination. In 1998, Droz joined the group as a third Road Warrior in a tasteless angle that saw Hawk deal with alcohol abuse and \’fall\’ off the titan tron. 

    It\’d be close to a decade before fans saw somebody new don the pads. In 2005, Animal began teaming with Heidenreich as Hawk had passed away in 2003. Heidenreich donned the shoulder pads and the pair enjoyed a brief reign as WWE Tag Team Champions.  

  • Hana Kimura\’s Mother Grateful For Recent Meeting with Mercedes Mone

    The mother of Hana Kimura was delighted to recently meet with Mercedes Mone, who has been a vocal supporter of the late wrestler.  

    On Twitter, Hana\’s mother Kyoko, a wrestler in her own right, shared some photos with the former WWE Superstar. Kyoko Kimura said her heart was \”peaceful\” when she met with Mone and that the pair spent time in one of Hana\’s favorite locations. Kyoko Kimura also thanked Mone for a wonderful evening. 

    Mercedes Mone & Hana Kimura

    After Kimura\’s death in 2022, Mone, who worked as Sasha Banks at the time, wore a black armband during an episode of SmackDown with Hana\’s name on it. Years later, Mone wore a Hana Kimura-themed attire for NJPW Battle in the Valley 2023, complete with Hana\’s signature gasmask. The show saw Mone defeat KAIRI to become the second-ever IWGP Women\’s Champion. 

    Hana Kimura

    Hana Kimura took her own life in May 2020 following abuse online stemming from her appearance on the Japanese reality show Terrace House: Tokyo. Earlier in the day of her death, Kimura had shared some of the hateful messages, including racist abuse, she had received stemming from her appearance on the show. 

    In December 2020, Hana\’s death was officially ruled as a suicide. That same month, a man was arrested and admitted to sending harmful messages but said he couldn\’t forgive Hana for her actions on the program. In 2021, the man was issued a ¥9000 ($80 USD) fine, prompting outrage that the punishment was too lenient.

    In June 2022, Japan\’s parliament passed a law in which \”online insults\” were punishable by one year imprisonment in response to Kimura\’s online bullying. Offenders convicted can also face a fine of up to ¥300,000 ($2,200 USD.)

  • Becky Lynch Says WWE Rejected Her Request to Lose The Raw Women\’s Title in 2020

    Becky Lynch was eager to lose the Raw Women\’s Championship to a rising Superstar in 2020 until WWE made it clear that wasn\’t going to happen. 

    In early 2020, Lynch feuded with Shayna Baszler over the championship which Lynch had won at WrestleMania 35 the previous year. Baszler\’s infamous debut on Raw saw her bite the neck of Lynch in a gruesome moment that immediately went viral at the time. 

    Becky Lynch Wanted to Lose

    Following Baszler\’s shocking debut on Raw, WWE continued to build momentum for her. That year, Baszler won the Women\’s Elimination Chamber match to earn a title match with Lynch, and in a display of dominance, eliminated everyone else inside the Chamber structure. 

    Despite being built up to be a genuine threat to Lynch, Baszler lost in their title match at WrestleMania 36. In an excerpt from her upcoming memoir The Man, Lynch explained that she asked WWE to let her lose the title to the Queen of Spades.

    \”I had recommended that she take the title from me at WrestleMania… I had been a babyface champion for so long and could feel the audience beginning to turn on me. I had gone from underdog to top dog and such a situation can\’t overstay its welcome.\”

    Lynch was confident that losing the title to Baszler at WrestleMania 36 was the right call but WWE disagreed with that idea. 

    \”We needed to make more female contenders and what better way to do that than having them win the title on the grandest stage of them all? Everyone wins. Except me, whose request was denied. I wanted to lose, but I would actually win, so it was a loss… Sigh. Wrestling is confusing.\”

    What Happened Next? 

    Within weeks of her unwanted win over Baszler, Lynch vacated the Raw Women\’s Title due to her pregnancy. Asuka would be awarded the title 24 hours after her victory in the Women\’s Money in the Bank Ladder match. While Baszler would capture the Women\’s Tag Team Championships with Nia Jax that same year, she\’s still yet to get a singles Women\’s title win on the main roster.

  • WWE\’s Bloodline Represented At House of Glory Reckoning, TNA/AEW Stars Appear

    WWE\’s dominant Bloodline was represented at House of Glory\’s Reckoning event thanks to a member of the Anoa\’i wrestling family working the show. 

    In the fourth match of the night, Lance Anoa\’i challenged HOG Crown Jewel Champion Carlos Ramirez. Lance was introduced as “representing the Bloodline” and got many chants and gestures for it. Anoa\’i also did moves connected to his family who are dominating on WWE SmackDown. Despite this, Ramirez hit a coast-to-coast headbutt followed by a pump handle driver to retain his title. 

    AEW/TNA Talent

    House of Glory Reckoning also saw several names from TNA Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling appear on the card. From AEW, fans in attendance saw Danhausen, Penta El Zero Miedo, and reigning HOG Heavyweight Champion Mike Santana on the card. TNA was represented by The Rascalz, Alex Shelley, and the new TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali. 

    House of Glory Reckoning Results

    Here are the results for the House of Glory Reckoning event:#

    • HOG Cruiserweight Championship Suicidal Six-Way: KC Navarro defeats Nolo Kitano (c) (w/ The Anunnakis),  Raheem Royal, Daron Richardson, Jay Armani, and Jay Lyon
    • Danhausen (w/ Brian Quinn) defeats “Sweet Cheeks” Joey Silver
    • Kamar Kouture & Kiki Van Gogh defeat Diamond Virago & The Ultra Violette
    • HOG Crown Jewel Championship: Carlos Ramirez (c) defeats The Bloodline\’s Lance Anoa’i
    • The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) defeats Cash Flow Inc. (Ken Broadway & J Boujii)
    • Charles Mason defeats Midas Black (w/ Jay Lyon)
    • Mustafa Ali defeats Alex Shelley
    • HOG Heavyweight Championship: Mike Santana (c) defeats Penta El Zero Miedo

  • Billy Jack Haynes Trial Set for April In Connection To Death Of His Wife

    Former WWE star William \’Billy Jack\’ Haynes will face trial next month on charges connected to the death of his wife earlier this year.

    Haynes will stand trial on April 11, on charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. These charges are in relation to the death of his wife Janette Becraft, 85, who died in Portland, Oregon, several weeks ago. 

    Billy Jack Haynes Arrest

    Haynes was arrested in February 2024 after the authorities were called following gunfire being heard by neighbors. A tense standoff with officers ended as Haynes \”eventually came out\” of his home and was detained. 

    Authorities who searched his home later confirmed that the body in his home was that of Becraft. In a statement, Portland PD said that Haynes was taken to a local hospital under police custody after the arrest for a medical condition unrelated to the homicide. He was officially charged with second degree murder last week. 

    Billy Jack Haynes in Wrestling

    Trained by the legendary Stu Hart, Haynes broke into the wrestling business in the 80s and joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1986. Haynes feuded with Randy Savage over the Intercontinental Championship and later with Hercules Hernandez over who was stronger. Haynes and Hernandez fought in the \’Battle of the Full Nelsons\’ at WrestleMania 3, as both men used this move as a signature hold.

    Haynes left the WWF in early 1988 under some controversy. In one version of his exit, Haynes quit the WWF after refusing to do a job in his hometown of Portland. Another telling of his exit said that he wrestled the match and the finish and was fired afterward.

  • AEW Revolution 2024: Tony Khan Shares Heartfelt Statement Ahead of Sting\’s Last Match

    AEW President Tony Khan will always appreciate what Sting has done for AEW, as made clear in a statement ahead of tonight\’s AEW Revolution 2024 event. 

    At tonight\’s show, Sting will compete in his final wrestling match. The Icon announced in October that he planned to retire at AEW Revolution 2024, three years on from making his wrestling debut for AEW at the same event. Sting and Darby Allin will defend the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, formerly known as the Young Bucks.

    Tony Khan on Sting

    The prospect of Sting\’s retirement has led to countless wrestlers and fans reflecting on their favorite moments from the Icon. Taking to Twitter, Tony Khan gave a heartfelt statement about Sting.

    \”Tomorrow night, Sunday, March 3, the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina will be packed for AEW: Revolution, and fans from around the world will be watching live on pay-per-view to witness the well-deserved sendoff for professional wrestling’s most enduring icon: @Sting.

    \”Sting first contacted me about All Elite Wrestling in 2020, expressing interest in a comeback. Seizing the opening, I convinced him to make a surprise return to TNT, 25 years after his first appearance on the network, at AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming.

    \”Sting in AEW would fit like a glove. The Stinger had kept himself in incredible condition, and for his return to the ring, I recommended a partnership that grew to be a bond far stronger than any wrestling hold. In our early phone conversations about a comeback, I told Sting that I saw a great deal of him in a tremendous young wrestler named Darby Allin, and I thought that they could be a great team, although I never imagined what close friends they\’d become outside the ring as well. Sting\’s surprise arrival in AEW kicked off a mentor-protégé relationship with Darby Allin, which led to a tag team street fight at AEW: Revolution 2021 against Team Taz, Ricky Starks and Brian Cage, as Sting stepped in the ring again for the first time in years. Sting and Darby continued teaming in exciting matches for years to come on TNT and TBS, leaping off of stages, balconies, and ladders with reckless abandon as they accumulated an undefeated record. Finally, they captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship, and they went to bask in the glory of a victory celebration with Sting\’s family, only to have the timeless moment stolen in an abominable attack by AEW\’s jealous EVPs, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, going against everything that the company is meant to represent when they desecrated a legend and hurt Sting\’s loved ones. And now, at AEW: Revolution, this Sunday, 3 years after the comeback began, it all comes down to one last grudge match, The Final Showtime: Sting and Darby Allin defending the AEW World Tag Team Championship against Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, the Young Bucks. Before we all gather on Sunday to witness the culmination of one of the greatest runs in wrestling history, the AEW locker room and Sting’s family wanted to share their favorite memories in tribute to The Icon himself. We cannot thank him enough for everything he’s given us over his nearly 40-year career.\”

    AEW Revolution 2024

    AEW Revolution will take place on Sunday, March 3, from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC. Here is how the card currently stands.

    • Sting and Darby Allin (c) (with Ric Flair) vs. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) (AEW World Tag Team Championship)
    • Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong (with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) (AEW International Championship)
    • \”Timeless\” Toni Storm (c) (with Mariah May and Luther) vs. Deonna Purrazzo (AEW Women\’s World Championship)
    • Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson (Continental Crown Championship, If Bryan loses, he must shake Kingston\’s hand)
    • Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita
    • Christian Cage (c) (with Killswitch, Mother Wayne, and \”The Prodigy\” Nick Wayne) vs. Daniel Garcia (AEW TNT Championship)
    • Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer (Meat Madness)
    • FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli)
    • Samoa Joe (c) vs. \”Hangman\” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) (AEW World Championship)

  • Did AEW Tease The Arrival of Mercedes Mone On The 3/2 Episode of Collision?

    A comment made on this week\’s episode of AEW Collision has caught the attention of fans with many believing it was a nod to Mercedes Mone. 

    The March 2, episode of Collision served as the go-home show before tonight\’s AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view. That show will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will mark the retirement of Sting, whose AEW World Tag Team Title match with Darby Allin against The Young Bucks will be the last bout in the Icon\’s legendary career. 

    Serena Deeb\’s Promo 

    During this week\’s Collision, Serena Deeb had a promo in which she addressed her impressive record in AEW. The veteran dubbed herself \”The Professor of Professional Wrestling\” and \”The Woman of 1000 Holds,\” the latter being a nod to AEW\’s Dean Malenko. With that said, it was the final line of her promo that caught the attention of fans as she made a challenge. 

    \”Test yourself against the most elite wrestler, because I\’ll be here each and every week showing the world that nobody can do what I do in the ring and why I am \’The Final Boss.\”

    Merced Mone Teased? 

    This line about being the \’final boss\’ has led many to speculate that Deeb will soon share the ring with Mercedes Mone. The ex-Superstar is expected to debut on the \’Big Business\’ episode of AEW Dynamite that\’ll take place on March 13. 

    In promotional material, the term \’Bo$$ton\’ can be found, with fans seeing this as further proof that Mone, known affectionately as \’The Boss\’ will be debuting. Mone is reportedly already under contract with AEW and has been for some time.

  • Latest on Braun Strowman\’s Health Status Nine Months After Neck Fusion Surgery

    It\’s still unclear as to when Braun Strowman will compete again, but there is some good news for the Monster Among Men. 

    It was in June of last year that Strowman underwent neck fusion surgery which has kept the former Universal Champion out of action ever since. That same month, Strowman admitted he had been struggling to be away from the ring saying that the situation was hard for him mentally as well as physically. While Strowman teased returning as part of the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match, that did not transpire. 

    Latest on Braun Strowman

    During a recent Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp was asked about Strowman\’s situation. Sapp was pleased to state that Strowman is doing better than one would anticipate for the SmackDown Superstar. 

    “Someone in January implied that he would be back soon and I was thinking \’surely not\’ but then I followed up and was told that “he’s doing way better than anticipated.”

    Braun Strowman Out of the Ring

    While Strowman hasn\’t competed in close to a year, the Monster Among Men has been active outside of the ring, Strowman, among other Superstars, got tattoos in memory of Bray Wyatt in August of last year, in memory of the late wrestler who died aged 36. 

    More recently, Strowman surprised fans at the WWE Experience in Saudi Arabia. On social media, Strowman expressed gratitude to participate at the Riyadh event and said he was honored to make the trip.

  • Fan Reaction To Tiffany Stratton Has Caught Many In WWE By Surprise

    Higher-ups within WWE are always on the hunt for the next top star, and have been surprised by the reaction to Tiffany Stratton. 

    The reaction to Stratton has come as a surprise to many within WWE, Fightful Select reports. It is added that WWE is anticipating the vocal response from the fans going forward with their events. 

    Tiffany Down Under

    Stratton\’s popularity was hard to ignore during the WWE Elimination Chamber 2024 event from Perth, Australia. The former WWE NXT Women\’s Champion competed in her first Chamber match at the event, and the fans were behind her from the get-go. 

    Fans chanted for Stratton while she was in her pod and her spots in the match, including a Senton off the top of a pod, were also impressive. Despite this, it was Becky Lynch who won the match, earning a Women\’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 40. 

    Tiffany Stratton in WWE

    Stratton signed with WWE in August 2021 as the only woman in her class of recruits to the WWE Performance Center. After debuting on 205 Live in November, she would join WWE NXT the following month. 

    In May 2023, Stratton captured the NXT Women\’s Championship in a tournament that saw her defeat Gigi Dolin, Roxanne Perez, and Lyra Valkyria. That same year, she entered a well-regarded feud with Becky Lynch that saw The Man capture the NXT Women\’s title. 

    After an impressive outing in the 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble match, Stratton was signed to SmackDown on the immediate episode of the blue brand. That same night, she defeated \’Michin\’ Mia Yim in her main roster debut. 

  • Jade Cargill Teases Involvement in WrestleMania 40 Feud After 3/1 SmackDown Appearance

    Jade Cargill made her presence felt on this week\’s SmackDown and we may be seeing more of the impressive talent as we get closer to WrestleMania 40. 

    During this week\’s SmackDown, Dakota Kai turned on Bayley and made clear that she was on the side of Damage CTRL. This came after Bayley and Kai challenged the Kabuki Warriors for the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships. Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane, and IYO SKY delivered a sickening four-on-one attack on the 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble winner.

    Jade Cargill Responds

    Jade Cargill was also a part of this week\’s SmackDown and came face to face with IYO SKY. The inaugural AEW TBS Champion once again exhumed confidence as she has throughout her wrestling career. 

    Taking to Twitter after SmackDown, Jade Cargill said what happened on the show was not right and said that someone like IYO SKY shouldn\’t be holding a \”belt\” for acting this way. Moments later, the ex-AEW star corrected herself, stating that the WWE Women\’s Champion held by SKY is \”MY belt.\”

    Jade Cargill Involved? 

    Cargill\’s comments certainly imply that she\’s supporting Bayley in this feud. It isn\’t beyond the realms of possibility that Cargill could get physical and back the Role Model up. It\’d certainly be fitting for Cargill to have a role on the road to WrestleMania, given that WWE clearly sees her as a potential top star. 

    Jade Cargill on SmackDown

    Cargill appeared on SmackDown shortly after signing with WWE in 2023. During her segment, she came face-to-face with Charlotte Flair. At the time, it was speculated that a feud was being planned, potentially with a match at WrestleMania. If that was the plan, it\’ll have been scrapped as Flair will miss most of 2023 due to a leg injury. 

  • The Rock: From the Bottom of My Heart, F*** Cody Rhodes\’ Story

    Cody Rhodes may have a burning desire to finish his story at WrestleMania 40, but that doesn\’t phase the Bloodline\’s newest member The Rock. 

    Rhodes\’ pursuit of a WWE World Championship has been the focal point of his return to WWE. Recently, the \’We Want Cody\’ movement led to WWE backing out of plans for The Rock to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. In response, The Rock has turned heel and has vowed to make sure Rhodes doesn\’t finish his story this April. 

    F*** Your Story

    Taking to social media, the Brahma Bull had a message for Rhodes and his \’crybaby fans. The Brahma Bull explained that Rhodes made a serious mistake by bringing up his family at the WrestleMania kick-off event. The Great One concluded with a clear message to Rhodes and his story. 

    \”Fans wanted to see the biggest WrestleMania event of all time. You took it away. Now, you’re going to pay. Cody Rhodes, from the bottom of my heart, man to man, f*** your story.\”

    What\’s Next? 

    The Rock will be a part of tonight\’s episode of WWE SmackDown. Cody Rhodes will also be part of SmackDown as part of his stacked March schedule. It\’s unclear if Rhodes will appear during the show as unlike The Rock, he isn\’t being advertised for an on-screen appearance. 

    At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one-on-one before Seth Rollins stated it\’s never so simple when it comes to The Bloodline. A tag match pitting Rock and Reigns against Rhodes and Rollins has been discussed for WrestleMania 40. 

  • John Cena Is Happy to Bring Peace to Mortal Kombat 1 With Peacemaker Inclusion

    John Cena is excited to bring \’peace\’ to the ultra-violent world of Mortal Kombat with the inclusion of Peacemaker to the series. 

    In July 2023, Peacemaker was announced for Mortal Kombat 1, which despite the name is the latest game in the popular fighting series. Recently, fans got a trailer of Peacemaker in the game, which is voiced by Cena. 

    https://twitter.com/MortalKombat/status/1760665781137031567

    In a tweet, Cena said that after three decades of brutal Mortal Kombat games, he was pleased to bring some peace to the game. 

    John Cena as Peacemaker

    The 16-time WWE World Champion first portrayed Peacemaker in 2021\’s \’The Suicide Squad,\’ a soft sequel to the 2016 \’Suicide Squad\’ film. Diving deep into the character, Cena would often wear the full Peacemaker costume when making public appearances and when walking the red carpet.

    Peacemaker is also the subject of its own series from HBO Max (now known as just Max.) Peacemaker the series debuted in January 2022 and received solid reviews. A second season of Peacemaker was greenlit in early 2022. 

    Who is Peacemaker?

    Cena plays the jingoistic Christopher Smith, a character who believes in doing anything to achieve what he considers peace, even if it means killing men, women, and children. The first season of the Peacemaker TV series explored what drives the character to this dedication to \’peace\’, such as his fraught relationship with his father played by Robert Patrick. The Terminator 2 actor has a history with Cena as the pair shared the screen for 2006\’s The Marine. 

    WWE and Mortal Kombat

    Cena isn\’t the only name from pro wrestling to make their presence felt in Mortal Kombat. For Mortal Kombat 11, Ronda Rousey voiced series regular Sonya Blade. The Miz\’s Hollywood A-Lister character has often been compared to Johnny Cage, another regular in the series. 

  • Frustrated AEW Stars Refusing To Carry Out Tony Khan\’s Creative Plans

    Members of the AEW roster are said to be \”very frustrated\” with management to the point that some are refusing to do what has been written for them. 

    Since launching in 2019, AEW has aimed to be an alternative to WWE, which saw plenty of chaos backstage during the Vince McMahon administration. During the most recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez shared that there\’s growing resentment among the roster. 

    \”A lot of people are very frustrated because they don\’t find out the Tuesday before. Some people do, some people will know what they\’re doing because there are a couple of matches usually advertised in advance. But most people are showing up the day of the show and finding out if they are doing anything or not.\”

    Alvarez added that some AEW stars flat-out refuse to do what is requested on them and usually, Tony Khan relents, forcing plans to be changed at the last minute. 

    \”People don\’t want to do something and Tony doesn\’t make them do it. There\’s a lot of this… I hear about this every single day. Trying to put together these shows is just a whirlwind.\”

    What\’s Next for AEW? 

    AEW\’s next major event will be this weekend\’s Revolution pay-per-view in Greensboro, North Carolina. This show has seen changes, with the Meat Madness match being put \’on ice\’ and replaced with the All-Star Scramble match. Tony Khan has said that the Meat Madness bout is postponed due to injuries. Lance Archer, Wardlow, and Powerhouse Hobbs were all announced for Meat Madness and will all compete in the All-Star Scramble. 

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

  • Tony Khan: AEW Is Well-Equipped To Tackle Allegations of Misconduct

    AEW is well-equipped to handle any allegations of misconduct brought to its disciplinary committee, according to company President Tony Khan. 

    In the wake of Janel Grant\’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE, there has been a spotlight on how allegations of misconduct are handled in the wrestling industry. Grant alleges that she was sexually abused and trafficked by the 78-year-old billionaire. McMahon had denied all allegations but resigned from WWE in January of this year. 

    AEW\’s Allegations

    In late 2023, Chris Jericho was accused of acting inappropriately with Kylie Rae four years earlier, which allegedly led to her abrupt exit from AEW. At the following Worlds End event, Jericho faced hostile chants from fans addressing the allegations. Speaking on the post-show media scrum, Tony Khan he said he took accusations of sexual harassment seriously, though many felt choosing to wear Toni Storm\’s silly glasses and hat undermined his point. 

    Tony Khan Comments

    Speaking on the media call ahead of this weekend\’s Revolution pay-per-view, Khan addressed how AEW can handle allegations of misconduct. 

    “We have trained professionals on the disciplinary committee, including two attorneys and Bryan Danielson. And they’re different backgrounds, and that’s the idea to have people from different backgrounds. And different experiences in wrestling, which is certainly its own unique business with its own unique set of challenges. 

    “And they would be looking out against all misconduct claims, and we’ve tried to train them up to do their best. I think, to really whatever the situation is, in terms of misconduct, to do whatever it takes to ensure the well-being of the wrestlers, which is first and foremost here above everything else.”

    AEW Revolution will take place this Sunday, March 3, from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

  • Cody Rhodes Shares Stacked WWE Schedule for March 2024

    Cody Rhodes will be one busy individual for the month of March as he continues on the road to WrestleMania. 

    At the two-night event, Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The bout will be the long-awaited rematch between the two following Rhodes\’ emotional loss to Reigns at WrestleMania 39 in April 2023. Rhodes earned this match by winning the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match, becoming the fourth man in history to win back-to-back Rumbles. 

    Cody Rhodes\’ March Schedule

    On Twitter, Cody Rhodes shared his schedule for March of 2024. Rhodes will be on every episode of Monday Night Raw this month and will be at the majority of SmackDown tapings. Rhodes will also compete at ten \’Road to WrestleMania\’ live events. 

    This is quite the workload for Rhodes, in stark contrast to his WrestleMania opponent. Cody will compete more in one month than Reigns did in all of 2023. In the comments of Cody\’s tweet, fellow Raw Superstar Chad Gable was impressed by Rhodes\’ work ethic, calling him \”the standard.\”

    Another WrestleMania Match? 

    Rhodes will be in for the fight of his life at WrestleMania, but the match with Roman Reigns may not be his only showdown in Philadelphia. At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one-on-one. Seth Rollins reminded Cody that it\’s never one-on-one when it comes to The Bloodline. A blockbuster tag-team match has been discussed as WrestleMania 40: Saturday\’s main event, which would pit Rhodes and Rollins against Rock and Reigns. 

  • WWE\’s The Rock & Bad Bunny Among 2024 Academy Award Presenters

    Notable WWE names The Rock and Bad Bunny will be on hand to present Oscars at this month\’s annual Academy Awards ceremony in LA. 

    The Hollywood Reporter notes that The Rock and Bad Bunny have been added to the list of presenters, alongside Michael Keaton, Jennifer Lawrence, John Mulaney, and others. This group adds to the previously announced list of presenters which includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Matthew McConaughey, Al Pacino, Zendaya, Sam Rockwell, and Michelle Yeoh, among others. 

    Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer led this year’s nominations with 13 nods, followed by Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things with 11, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon with 10 and Greta Gerwig’s Barbie with eight. The ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and take place on March 10 at 7 pm ET at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles.

    Bad Bunny in WWE

    Bad Bunny debuted in WWE in 2021 and immediately wowed fans with his in-ring ability. After competing at WrestleMania 37, Bunny was equally impressed in the 2022 Men\’s Royal Rumble match. At Backlash 2023, the Grammy Award-winning artist competed in his first singles match and defeated Damien Priest in the San Juan Street Fight.

    What\’s Next for The Rock? 

    The Rock is back in WWE as a heel and has been confirmed as the newest member of The Bloodline. The Great One has vowed that he will prevent Cody Rhodes from finishing his story at WrestleMania. The upcoming two-night show could see The Rock in action as a blockbuster tag team match has been discussed for Night One of WrestleMania 40. The Great One will be on tonight\’s episode of SmackDown.

  • When Can Fans Expect to See Kazuchika Okada in AEW?

    Kazuchika Okada is reportedly on his way to All Elite Wrestling, and fans may not have to wait long to see his official debut. 

    Last month, it was confirmed that Okada\’s contract with NJPW was set to expire. Okada worked the New Beginnings event scheduled for February, as a sign of respect to the promotion. Okada had been with New Japan for 17 years before his departure. 

    Joining AEW and WWE Interest

    At first, it appeared that Okada would be joining WWE and the idea was that he would be debuting in WWE NXT first. Speculation around his supposed WWE arrival grew to the point that Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER said Okada would be welcome in the company. 

    Last month, it was reported that AEW had beaten WWE and secured a deal with Okada. It was confirmed that WWE had spoken with Okada and that AEW had been \”confident\” in their offer to the Japanese wrestler

    When to Expect Kazuchika Okada

    The tentative plan is for Okade to be around for the March 6, episode of AEW Dynamite, Fightful Select reports. During the AEW Revolution 2024 media call, Tony Khan spoke about something big coming to next week\’s show in Atlanta, Georgia. 

    \”There’s a lot of really exciting things coming. I’m very excited for Revolution and the shows after that. I can promise you I have something very exciting, I’m very excited about for the fans in Atlanta.”

    The timing of Okada\’s expected debut is certainly interesting. The March 13, episode of AEW Dynamite will be the promotion\’s \’Big Business\’ show and is expected to mark the AEW debut of Mercedes Mone. 

  • Hammerstone Signs With TNA Wrestling, Says It\’s \”Time to Get to Work\”

    TNA Wrestling is pleased to welcome Alex Hammerstone as the newest member of its roster in a move that was made official this week. 

    On Twitter, TNA confirmed that Hammerstone has signed with the promotion. Responding to the tweet, Hammerstone made it clear that it\’s time for him to show what he can do in a TNA ring. 

    Hammerstone in TNA Wrestling

    Hammerstone made his debut for TNA at Hard to Kill 2024 last month in a match against Josh Alexander. In the sixth match on the main card (and ninth overall), Alexander defeated Hammerstone. The pair are scheduled to compete in a rematch at TNA Sacrifice. That show will take place on March 8, 2024, from the St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. 

    While Hard to Kill was Hammerstone\’s TNA debut, he had briefly worked for the promotion once before. In January 2019, he competed on IMPACT Wrestling\’s Xplosion show and earned a victory over Nick Brubaker. 

    Hammerstone In the Ring

    Hammerstone made his debut in the wrestling business in 2013 and is best known for his success in Major League Wrestling. Joining the promotion in 2019, Hammerstone quickly became part of The Dynasty, a faction that would include Richard Holliday and AEW\’s MJF. 

    That same year, he became the first MLW National Openweight Champion, and in 2021, defeated MLW World Heavyweight Champion Jacob Fatu in a title-for-title match. 

    Outside of MLW, Hammerstone competed for Pro Wrestling Noah in 2019. In February 2016, he did extra work for WWE and appeared on screen as a bodyguard for Tyler Breeze. 

  • Ex-WWE Writer Claims They Were Punished For Challenging Racially Insensitive Content

    A former WWE writer lost their job for challenging the company\’s racially insensitive content the company was producing, it has been claimed. 

    On LinkedIn, Michael Leonardi shared two videos explaining his exit from the company in 2016. He explained that the Muhammad Hassan character proved to be pivotal in his firing from WWE. 

    \”Back then, there was a character by the name of Muhammad Hassan. In July of 2005, while in the build-up to a PPV match with the Undertaker, WWE aired a controversial segment that made national news as hitting a little too close to home with the ongoing \”war on terror.

    \”Shortly thereafter, the london bus bombings occurred which brought more attention to the angle and the concern amongst UPN.\”

    Leonardi, who was assigned to oversee the Hassan Vs. Undertaker match at that year\’s Great American Bash, made clear to WWE that he did not feel comfortable with the angle. 

    \”I told my boss that I had a problem being associated with the project (I felt strongly that it was just wrong of us to keep going with it) and asked if I could be assigned to one of the other matches (which I was) Eddie vs. Rey (with little dominick, which is crazy to see where he is now!)\”

    The former WWE writer then explained how he felt the company punished him for taking a stance against the controversial character. 

    \”I was then promptly stripped of all my responsibilities as an associate producer and given grunt work. A week or so later, UPN put enough pressure on WWE that the character was eventually wiped from WWE programming after the PPV and never seen again.

    \”I was then given back my responsibilities. As much as I loved working there, I thought it was F\’d up that the situation was handled that way and soon thereafter put in my notice.\”

    Other Claims

    Leonardi isn\’t the first former WWE employee to claim they were punished for challenging racially insensitive content. Last year, Britney Abrahams claimed she was fired by WWE after she challenged shocking story ideas, including one that would see Mansoor be responsible for 9/11. Abrahams alleged that she was fired for taking a WrestleMania chair home, despite other employees being allowed to do the very same. She voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit last August. 

  • WWE 2K24 & Snickers Confirmed As WrestleMania 40 Presenting Partners

    WWE 2K24 and Snickers will serve as the Presenting Partners of WrestleMania 40, which will take place from Philadelphia\’s Lincoln Financial Field this April.

    This marks the third consecutive year that WWE 2K and Snickers have teamed up as the Presenting Partners of WWE\’s annual supershow. In a statement, Martin Terwilliger, Marketing Vice President, Mars Wrigley, was excited to continue the partnership.

    \”SNICKERS is proud to return to WrestleMania, bringing a satisfying solution to WWE fans around the world. We look forward to showing up for the passionate fanbase with WWE 2K24 as presenting partners for WrestleMania XL, bringing fans what is sure to be one of the most exciting sporting events of 2024.”

    Dennis Ceccarelli, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Sports at 2K, was also pleased to be a presenting partner of WrestleMania 40

    \”While fans can relive forty years of WrestleMania in WWE 2K24, we\’ll once again tag-team with SNICKERS to co-present WrestleMania XL. We\’ll be cheering on our cover Superstars: Rallying Cody Rhodes to \’Finish the Story,\’ rooting for Rhea Ripley to defend her title, and looking forward to Bianca Belair putting on the \’EST\’ WrestleMania performance of all.”

    Grant Norris-Jones, EVP & Head of Global Partnerships, TKO, addressed the size of WrestleMania 40 with great fervor.

    \”WrestleMania XL is shaping up to be the biggest event in WWE history and we are excited to take our partnership with 2K and Snickers to new heights as the brands unite for a third consecutive year.\”

    WrestleMania 40

    WWE WrestleMania 40 will be the promotion\’s fifth two-night event, a tradition established during the COVID-19 pandemic. The card for the show as it currently stands is as follows:

    • Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
    • Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women\’s Championship)
    • Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women\’s World Championship)
    • Seth \”Freakin\” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

  • The Rock Gives Big to Foundation After Couple Loses Daughter to Cancer

    Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson has opened his heart and his wallet to a couple who are grieving the loss of their daughter. 

    In an emotional video shared on his Instagram account, Johnson spoke about Esperenza and Edwin, who recently lost their daughter Lily Rose to cancer. The couple have started a foundation in her name to help families who went through the same trauma they are experiencing. 

    In the video, Johnson explains how Lily Rose was a big fan of Maui, his character from the Disney hit Moana. The Brahma Bull then gave the pair a $50,000 donation to their foundation. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C37SMF_Lve4

    The Rock\’s Generosity

    This is by no means the first time that Johnson has shown his generous side. In June of last year, The Rock bought a home for WWE\’s Tamina Snuka, and has previously bought a car and other massive purchases for his mom. Last September, he ensured that a fan who a U.S. serviceman who received a fake autograph received a genuine one, among other gifts. 

    What\’s Next?

    The Rock will be a part of this week\’s episode of WWE SmackDown, and will be on the subsequent two weeks of programming. The newest member of The Bloodline, The Rock is expected to have a significant role at WrestleMania 40. 

    At WWE Elimination Chamber 2024, Cody Rhodes challenged The Rock to go one on one. Seth Rollins reminded Rhodes that it\’s never one-on-one with The Bloodline. It is believed a tag match, pitting Rhodes & Rollins against Rock & Roman Reigns could headline WrestleMania 40: Saturday.

  • R-Truth On Shawn Michaels: \’I See A Lot Of Shawn Michaels In Him\’

    R-Truth has been wowed with what he\’s seen from Shawn Michaels, who Truth believes could be the next, well, Shawn Michaels. 

    On social media, WWE shared a clip of Truth gushing praise to an unseen individual. Truth was clearly under the impression that he was speaking to Johnny Gargano. 

    “Johnny Gargano, Johnny Wrestling. Hey dawg, DIY is blowing up right now. Y’all hot. I’m telling you, just from me, I see a lot of Shawn Michaels in you, yes I do. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you could be the next Heartbreak Kid.”

    The camera then pans to reveal that Truth was speaking to the actual Shawn Michaels. The bewildered head of NXT closes the door on Truth who said he needs to speak with Ciampa.

    What\’s Next?

    Truth\’s comedy antics have proven to be a hit with the WWE Universe, many of whom hope to see the veteran rewarded with a WrestleMania spot. Some believe Truth could challenge Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER soon enough given comments by the Austrian on Raw. Others believe that a tag match would be more fitting, pitting Truth and The Miz against Truth\’s \’allies\’ in the Judgment Day.

    As for Shawn Michaels, his future will see him continue to lead WWE NXT as its creative head. The gold brand will host its Roadblock special episode next week. In April, WWE NXT will host its Stand & Deliver event the same day as WrestleMania 40: Saturday. No matches have been announced for the latter show at this time. 

  • AEW\’s New Trademark May Have Spoiled A New Pay-Per-View And The Return of a Huge Star

    A trademark filing by All Elite Wrestling may have revealed the promotion\’s next pay-per-view which would join the company\’s growing list of annual events. 

    AEW has filed a trademark for the term \’AEW Dynasty.\’ The filing cites the following uses: 

    \”AEW: DYNASTY trademark registration is intended to cover the categories of entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests; Entertainment services in the nature of live wrestling performances; Entertainment services in the nature of production of wrestling programs and events; Entertainment services, namely, an ongoing multimedia program featuring wrestling distributed via various platforms across multiple forms of transmission media; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of wrestling.\”

    A New Pay-Per-View? 

    According to Fightful Select, the trademark is connected to a pay-per-view/special show, which is potentially slated for April. AEW has yet to host a pay-per-view in April but holds Revolution in March and Double or Nothing in May. 

    A Returning Star? 

    The AEW Dynasty name has raised some eyebrows, with some believing it could mark the return of a former AEW World Champion. Outside of AEW, MJF was part of The Dynasty, which included himself, Alexander Hammerstone, Richard Holliday, and others. Holliday, who overcame cancer last year, was backstage at a July 2023 edition of AEW Collision. 

    AEW\’s Growing Schedule

    When AEW launched, it did so with four annual events: Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out, and Full Gear. Since then, the company has doubled that number with the introduction of AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door, All In, WrestleDream, and Worlds End.