SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Things Are Looking Up for Kenny Omega In Latest Diverticulitis Health Update

    Kenny Omega\’s current situation is looking more positive according to the latest update on the former AEW World Champion. 

    Last month, Omega revealed that he would be out of action indefinitely and it was later reported that he was battling diverticulitis. Omega\’s condition is so serious that Don Callis dropped his heel persona to wish his former client the very best in a message on social media. 

    Good News for Kenny Omega 

    Earlier this week, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer said that Omega is in a painful situation and that people are taking a wait-and-see approach at this time. While speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez reported that Kenny Omega’s recent treatment included antibiotic treatments, which seem to be effective.

    “I was told that one of the things with Kenny’s deal was that they had to pump him full of antibiotics. Apparently, the antibiotics are working. So he may still need surgery but the last report that I got, which was 20 minutes ago, was that things were looking up and that he was doing a lot better and hopefully going to make a full recovery.”

    Diverticulitis: The Facts

    Diverticulitis affects the large intestine and causes abdominal pain, which is why Omega mistook his situation for a hernia at first. It can be caused by diverticula, which are small, bulging pouches that can form in the lining of your digestive system. 

    Brock Lesnar and Shane McMahon have both suffered from diverticulitis in the past. Lesnar\’s situation would result in surgery and UFC fights being postponed. He would go under the knife in November 2009 and would return to action in July 2010. 

    We here at SE Scoops are continuing to wish Omega a full and speedy recovery. 

  • Cody Rhodes: I Actually Did What CM Punk Claimed He\’d Do In the Pipebomb

    CM Punk and Cody Rhodes didn\’t disappoint with their war of words during the January 22, 2023, edition of Monday Night Raw. 

    On this week\’s Raw, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes came face-to-face in a meeting of WWE\’s two most-popular Superstars. Punk kicked things off by bringing up Dusty Rhodes and recalled the late Hall of Famer asking Punk to watch over a young Cody in OVW in 2007. Punk added he was proud of Rhodes for becoming a big superstar in recent years. 

    Punk then spoke of this weekend\’s Men\’s Royal Rumble match, and said he plans on breaking his promise to Dusty (by not watching over Cody and winning the match.) Punk even claimed he\’d single out Cody in the match. Punk went even further when he said that his dad was an electrician, before saying that he is more of the American Dream than Cody is.

    Rhodes Retorts

    Not to be outdone, Cody fired right back at the Best in the World and brought up Punk\’s infamous 2011 pipebomb. Rhodes gave Punk props, saying his words inspired countless wrestlers competing today, including himself.  

    Rhodes then brought up Punk\’s 2014 walkout and pointed out that for all his claims during the pipebomb, Punk didn\’t do any of them. CM Punk teased joining New Japan Pro Wrestling or returning to Ring of Honor during the 2011 Pipebomb, but did neither. Cody also mentioned that he went to the places Punk claimed he\’d go. 

    This isn\’t all Cody Rhodes has had to say about the Best in the World… 

  • Tributes Pour in For Francisco Ciatso After Journeyman Wrestler\’s Death Aged 48

    Wrestlers, fans, and promotions alike have paid tribute to Francisco Ciatso following his sudden passing at the age of 48. 

    Ciatso was the subject of a 2019 documentary, Journeyman, and his death was shared publicly by Florida promoter Barry Rose via a Facebook post. 

    “We’d like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Francisco Ciatso, who passed away overnight. Frankie was a part of two CWF Legends Fanfests as he proudly presented the movie based on his life, Journeyman. RIP, champ.\”

    Tributes to Francisco Ciatso

    As a competitor in multiple promotions, Ciatso created several friendships throughout his career. On Twitter, WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce was at a loss for words. 

    Indy-God Matt Cardona would also share his condolences with a picture of the late wrestler. 

    Kenny King described Ciatso\’s sudden passing as \”unreal.\”

    Eric Koenreich recalled working with Fransico during his career. He said that Ciatso was a larger-than-life personality both in and out of the ring. 

    TNA Wrestling also shared their condolences to Ciatso\’s friends and family. Ciatso appeared for the promotion off and on as Frankie Capone. 

    Byron Saxton said that Ciatso was the definition of passion and fortitude in the wrestling business. 

    Brian Heffron, asks the Blue Meanie, shared a tribute shirt that is available to purchase. Proceeds will go to Ciatso\’s family. The NWA\’s

    The NWA\’s Jeremiah Plunkett recalled Ciatso helping him through some difficult times in his tribute. 

    A GoFundMe page has been created to help Ciatso\’s family. It has already surpassed its goal but can still be donated to. Click here to find out more. 

  • Hulk Hogan Teases Royal Rumble Involvement: \”I Might Have One Left In Me\”

    Could WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan make his return to competition as part of this weekend\’s Royal Rumble event? You never know… 

    This week marks the 40th anniversary of Hogan\’s historic world title win over the Iron Sheik, which is cited as the day that Hulkamania was born. WWE reportedly has big plans to celebrate the historic title change. 

    On this week\’s Raw, Hogan looked back on the magic of his first World Championship win, and spoke about the Royal Rumble event that will take place this weekend. Teasing involvement in the match, Hogan said that you never know who may show up, adding \”I might have one left in me.\”

    Hulk Hogan in the Royal Rumble

    Hogan is one of three men to have won back-to-back Royal Rumble matches, putting him in an elite class with \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels. The Hulkster was the first person in history to win multiple Rumble matches, having emerged victorious in 1990 and 1991. Hogan has competed in four Royal Rumble matches in his career. Combined, he has scored 27 eliminations and has lasted a total of 56:49 

    Royal Rumble 2024

    Here is the card for the WWE 2024 Royal Rumble PLE as it currently stands:

    • Men\’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER, Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa, Kofi Kingston, Damian Priest) 
    • Women\’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Maxxine Dupri, Ivy Nile)
    • Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
    • Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

    Who should fans expect to see return at the Royal Rumble… 

  • Watch: The Rock Meets Make-A-Wish Kids & Gives Presents In Incredible Video

    Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson may be one of the biggest stars in the world, but he\’ll always have time to meet the fine folks at Make-A-Wish. 

    In the video, The Rock recalled meeting 21 children from the Make-A-Wish foundation, who were thrilled to hang out with the People\’s Champion. In the video, The Rock reflected on how incredible the experience was for him. 

    \”I anticipated having a great day hey but today was something unlike I\’ve ever experienced.\”

    The Brahma Bull also reflected on his family\’s history with Make-A-Wish and was honored to be performing in the same role as his father Rocky Johnson. 

    \”We [myself and Make-A-Wish] go way way back. Make-A-Wish and my dad, granting the first wish in the state of New Jersey. I was 11 at that time the concept of that, I remember then being blown away. Like \’wait this is this little kid\’s wish?\’

    \”I always say that, you know, really they\’re the heroes and their families are the superstars. It\’s unbelievable and what an honor and and a privilege that I get to meet these kids to surprise them and it just gets no better than this.\”

    As part of the day\’s festivities, The Rock toured Universal Studios with the kids and their families, and answered questions about his role in the Fast and Furious franchise. 

    Later in the day, The Rock hosted a special party for the kids and their families. The Hollywood A-Lister gifted Project Rock merch and a Rock-themed Xbox to each kid, courtesy of \’Dwanta Claus.\’ Johnson also made sure to speak to every kid in one-on-one conversations and gave them some words of wisdom. 

    Did The Rock reveal a massive WWE future plan when meeting a kid from Make-A-Wish… 

  • Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Inducted Into Polynesian Football Hall of Fame

    Dwayne Johnson has added another accolade to his impressive resume by being inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. 

    Years before he was wowing fans as The Rock, Johnson played for the Miami Hurricanes as a defensive tackle. This week, The former WWE Champion was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, which recognizes athletes from Tonga, Samoa and surrounding islands. On Twitter, the Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment was honored to receive the induction. 

    Speaking about the Brahma Bull, former Miami head coach Dennis Erickson recalled Johnson\’s time with the University of Miami via the College Football Hall of Fame:

    \”Back then, he was a broad-shouldered defensive lineman and his teammates called him \’Dewey\’. He was often spotted walking around campus in a lava-lava skirt singing country music.”

    During Johnson\’s time at Miami, he was responsible for 77 tackles and 4.25 sacks, according to Pro Football Network. 

    Returning to the Ring? 

     It\’s been decades since Johnson played football, but a return to the ring may be in the works.  On the Day 1 edition of WWE Raw, The Rock returned and teased coming for Roman Reigns\’ spot as Head of the Table. Currently, WWE is trying to decide whether The Rock or Cody Rhodes will challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Despite reports that a triple-threat match had been discussed, SE Scoops\’ sources made clear that this is not the plan for the two-night April supershow. 

    The Rock may wrestle at WrestleMania 40 against his cousin, but is this the right match for WWE… 

  • \”Put Me In Coach!\” WWE NXT Superstar Wants In 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble Match

    One WWE NXT Superstar hopes to make an impression in this year\’s Women\’s Royal Rumble match, which will take place later this week. 

    On Twitter this week, the USA Network account asked fans who they\’d like to see in the upcoming Royal Rumble matches. In a response, NXT Superstar Thea Hail made clear she wants in her first Women\’s Royal Rumble match. 

    This year\’s Women\’s Rumble match will be the seventh in history after the match type was introduced in 2018. Previous winners of the Women\’s Rumble match include Asuka, Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Ronda Rousey, and reigning Women\’s World Champion Rhea Ripley. 

    Thea Hail is Over-The-Top

    While Hail has yet to compete in a Royal Rumble match, the Chase U member has seen success in over-the-top-rope battle royals. Hail has competed in five battle royals in WWE and with a victory in 2 of those matches, she boasts a 40% win record. Hail was part of the battle royal that took place on last week\’s WWE NXT, but failed to make it to the final four. 

    WWE Royal Rumble 2024

    Here is the card for the WWE 2024 Royal Rumble PLE as it currently stands:

    • Men\’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER.
    • Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)
    • Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

    Who should fans expect to see return at the Royal Rumble… 

  • Kazuchika Okada On Leaving NJPW: I Want the Hunger a New Home Will Provide

    \’The Rainmaker\’ Kazuchika Okada could have things easy if he stayed in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but the departing star is hungry for a new challenge. 

    Last week, it was confirmed that Okada\’s contract will expire this month. Despite this, Okada will work the New Beginnings event scheduled for February, as a sign of respect to the promotion. Once these are finished, the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion will be a completely free agent. 

    Kazuchika Okada on Leaving New Japan

    New Japan Pro Wrestling has been very good to Kazuchika Okada, so it\’s not hard to see why there\’d be a temptation to stay. In an interview with Tokyo Sports, however, Okada explained that this comfort in New Japan was a factor in his decision to leave. 

    “Maybe if I stay here, I can wrestle without any inconvenience. But I don’t want to become the same Kazuchika Okada without such hunger.

    \”I don’t want to be in a situation where I have to rest on my laurels. If I were “human” Okada, I would have friends here, and I would be in the best environment. But as “wrestler” Okada, it was different.”

    What\’s Next? 

    Given his talents, it\’s no surprise that both AEW and WWE are interested in bringing Okada on board. The Rainmaker has a history with AEW, as he competed at last year\’s Forbidden Door event against Bryan Danielson. With that said, Okada has always dreamed of wrestling at WrestleMania, an aspiration that those in WWE, including CCO Triple H, are well aware of. 

    Okada has something big in mind before he hangs up his boots for good… 

  • Watch: Cody Rhodes Meets \’Mini Cody\’ In Heartwarming WWE Live Event Moment

    WWE Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes has continued to prove himself as a hero of modern fans with a heartwarming interaction at a recent live event. 

    At the recent event in Montgomery, AL, Rhodes defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in a Bullrope match. After the bout, Rhodes met up with a young fan named Harrison, who was decked head to toe in a Cody-themed costume. Rhodes was thrilled to meet the young fan, and was relieved to learn that Harrison\’s favorite wrestler is none other than Cody himself. You can check out the heartwarming interaction below. 

    Cody Rhodes & The Fans

    Young Harrison is hardly the first fan to have an epic encounter with Cody Rhodes. When a fan held a sign asking Rhodes to be his best man, the Raw Superstar gladly accepted. Rhodes has also given away items to fans at WWE events, including after this week\’s episode of WWE SmackDown. In the run-up to Christmas, Rhodes went the extra mile to ensure that one young fan had the best Holiday season ever. 

    What\’s Next for Cody Rhodes? 

    Rhodes will compete in next week\’s Men\’s Royal Rumble match, a bout he won in 2023. Win or lose, many believe Rhodes will face Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. WWE is currently deciding whether it\’ll be Cody or The Rock who faces Reigns in Philadelphia. 

    Cody is the American Nightmare, but recently made some dreams come true for the popular \’The Wrestling Club\’… 

  • Ex-WWE Superstar Makes Surprise Appearance at TNA Tapings to Confront Former Ally

    TNA Wrestling has been making an impact in recent weeks, and the latest tapings saw allies of a popular WWE faction face off.

    During the latest aired episode of TNA iMPACT, Frankie Kazarian attacked Eric Young, turning heel on the former World Champion. The pair had previously lost to the Grizzled Young Veterans. During the most recent tapings, the angle continued and Kazarian told EY that he\’d only face him once Young had banished a ghost of his past. This brought out Big Damp, better known to WWE fans as Killian Dain. Despite his best efforts, Damp would lose to Young.

    SANITY

    Damo and Young were part of SANITY in WWE, which was formed in 2016. The group would capture the NXT Tag Team Championships before being called up to the main roster in 2018 (sans Nikki Cross.) The faction\’s time on the main roster would be underwhelming and the members were released in the coming years. The faction recently reunited in PROGRESS Wrestling and was represented by Damo, Young, and Axel Tischer (Alexander Wolfe in WWE.) 

    Big Damo in TNA Wrestling 

    Big Damo is no stranger to TNA, having had two matches for the promotion during their 2016 tour of the UK. Ironically, both of Damo\’s matches for TNA would see him face Young. EY bested Damo in a singles match in their first encounter. Their second encounter saw Young retain the King of the Mountain Championship in a King of the Mountain match against Damo, Jimmy Havoc, Bram, and Will Ospreay. 

  • Daniel Garcia: AEW\’s Roster Are Very Happy To See WWE Succeed

    While a portion of professional wrestling fans may be extremely tribal, those in AEW are happy to see its main competition, WWE, succeed. 

    Since launching in 2019, AEW has proven to be the biggest competition to WWE since the demise of WCW in 2001. When AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT competed in the Wednesday Night Wars, AEW\’s flagship show would win the majority of battles over ratings. When the two shows went head-to-head last October, however, NXT earned a comfortable, decisive victory over Dynamite. 

    AEW Are Happy for WWE

    The topic of tribalism has been a hot-button issue since the launch of AEW, with Tony Khan\’s recent outburst about Raw\’s booking making headlines. In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, however, Daniel Garcia made it clear why AEW\’s roster hopes to see WWE do well and vice versa. 

    \”The fans are so AEW or WWE, they think the talent is like that as well. They think we hate each other and we don’t interact with each other. When it comes down to it, having both companies is great for all of us. It gets us all more money, it makes the product better. The competition is great.

    \”We’re very grateful for WWE succeeding and I’m sure people at WWE, the talent, is very grateful for AEW being successful. All talent, for the most part, I think everyone gets along and interacts with each other.\”

    Garcia competed on this week\’s AEW Collision, where he defeated Buddy Matthews. He was attacked by the House of Black after the match. 

    One AEW star has called for less hostility among fans of AEW and WWE… 

    H/T – Fightful

  • Adele Praises A24\’s The Iron Claw: \”I Was So Blown Away\”

    A24\’s The Iron Claw has proven to be a hit among wrestling fans and movie-goers alike, and pop sensation Adele has also been impressed. 

    The biopic delves into the lives, careers, and many tragedies of the Von Erich family. Zac Efron plays Kevin Von Erich alongside Jeremy Allen White (Kerry) and Harris Dickinson (David). Several wrestlers appear in the film including MJF (as Lance Von Erich), Chavo Guerrero Jr. (Ed \’The Sheik\’ Farhat), and Ryan Nemeth (Gino Hernandez). 

    Adele Praises The Iron Claw

    At her latest Weekends With Adele residency show, the british musician had plenty of praise for The Iron Claw. Adele, known for hits including Hello, Someone Like You, and Rolling in the Deep, even went as far as to call the Von Erich biopic her favorite film of the past year.

    \”There\’s loads of great movies, but if you haven\’t seen it, [The] Iron Claw was my favorite movie of the year. It\’s about a very famous American wrestling family… f*****g phenomenal. They\’re all amazing. But [The] Iron Claw, I was so blown away by Zac Efron in that movie and after it I cried for three hours… So [The] Iron Claw is the best movie I\’ve seen all year. Watch it if you haven\’t seen it.\”

    The sold-out The Colosseum at Caesars Palace crowd erupted in agreement with Adele\’s review of the film. The film is currently in cinemas in the United States and is set to be released in Adele\’s native UK very soon. 

    Zac Efron\’s role as Kevin Von Erich will soon be immortalized in a unique way… 

  • Watch: Chris Curtis Walks Out To Adam Copeland\’s Theme in Epic UFC 297 Entrance

    The UFC may be allied with WWE as part of TKO Group Holdings, but it was AEW\’s Adam Copeland whose theme was used at a recent event. 

    At last night\’s UFC 297 event, Chris Curtis walked into his fight with Alterbridge\’s Metalingus playing. Copeland has used the theme since a 2004 heel turn as Edge in WWE and has been able to keep using the theme as part of AEW following his debut at WrestleDream. 

    Curtis competed against Marc-André Barriault in a middleweight-division fight. After going the distance in three rounds, Curtis was awarded the victory by decision. Curtis\’ wrestling fandom can\’t be denied, as during a weigh-in, he hit a pose that fans of a certain Apex Predator may find very familiar. 

    Pro-Wrestling Themes in UFC

    Copeland\’s theme isn\’t the first wrestling tune to make its way to the world of UFC. Colby Covington has often used \’Medal\’, the theme synonymous with Kurt Angle in WWE, though the song was also used by Sgt. Slaughter and The Patriot. 

    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. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWusg4MR1EE

    Australia\’s Jake Matthews didn\’t bring a sledgehammer or water bottle to his fight at UFC 243 in 2019, but did walk out to Triple H\’s \’The Game\’ theme. This tribute earned a reaction from the man himself, who described the entrance as \”badass\” in a tweet. 

    When the UFC returned to Calgary, Alberta in July 2018, it was fitting that Ion Cutelaba walked out to Bret Hart\’s WWE theme. After winning over the fans with his Bret Hart shades, the Moldovan fighter would win in the cage. 

    For more information about UFC 297, click here to check out all the latest news, courtesy of MMANews.com

  • Shelton Benjamin Still Weighing Options Of Post-WWE Career: \”I Want to Have Fun\”

    Shelton Benjamin isn\’t motivated by championships or glory in this upcoming chapter of his wrestling career following his departure from WWE, but rather having fun. 

    Benjamin was among those released from WWE in September of last year. The Gold Standard had been with the company since 2016. Before this, Benjamin had been under contract with the promotion from 2000 to 2010. He is a former U.S. Champion, Intercontinental Champion, Tag Champion, and WWE 24/7 Champion. 

     Shelton Benjamin On His Wrestling Future

    Shelton Benjamin hasn\’t wrestled since the final WWE Main Event taping before his release, where he and Cedric Alexander lost to the Viking Raiders. On a recent edition of the Kurt Angle Show podcast, Benjamin was asked about his future in the ring and admitted that he\’s yet to commit to a singular goal. 

    \”I\’m still weighing options. I\’ve had a knock on my door here and there. I have no commitments, nothing major to announce aside from a few indie dates and a lot of autograph sessions. I\’ve been taking my time on deciding what I want to do next.\”

    Benjamin went on to explain what\’s important for him at this stage of his wrestling career. 

    \”I am at a point in my career where I want to have fun. If it\’s not worth it, I want to have fun and make money, if it\’s not worth it, I just don\’t want to do it. I\’m not trying to build a name, I have a name, but I want to be where I\’m appreciated and featured and can have some fun.\”

    Shelton Benjamin will be back in the ring in due time… 

    H/T – Fightful

  • Roman Reigns Surpasses Bruno Sammartino In Historic World Championship Reign

    Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns has continued to etch his name in history by surpassing the legendary Bruno Sammartino\’s second WWWF title reign. 

    Reigns has dominated WWE since capturing the Universal Championship at Payback 2020, in a match that saw him defeat Braun Strowman and the late Bray Wyatt. This week, Reigns\’ tenure as champion reached 1,238 days with the Universal title. In doing so, the Head of the Table surpassed Bruno\’s second reign with the WWWF title. The WWE Hall of Famer\’s second reign saw him hold the gold from December 10, 1973, to April 30, 1977. 

    The Longest Reigning Champion Ever? 

    By surpassing Bruno\’s second World title reign, Reigns now boasts the fourth-longest WWE World Championship reign in the history of the company. Currently, the only reigns ahead of Reigns belong to Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund and Bruno Sammartino’s first WWWF title reign. 

    For Roman to overtake Hogan\’s first World title reign, he\’ll need to hold the gold until September 12, 2024. To overtake Backlund\’s first reign, he will need to remain champion until Sunday, July 5, 2026. Finally, to best Sammartino\’s first reign and become the longest-reigning champion in WWE history, Roman Reigns will need to keep the gold until Wednesday, May 3, 2028. 

    What\’s Next for Roman Reigns? 

    Reigns\’ next title defense will come at the Royal Rumble 2024 event next week. Reigns will defend in a four-way against AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and LA Knight. Should Reigns retain, WWE is currently deciding between two massive opponents for Reigns at WrestleMania 40.

    The Rock wants Roman Reigns, but the Head of the Table isn\’t sweating his cousin… 

  • Which WWE Superstar Made Grayson Waller Swear Off Cake Forever?

    Grayson Waller has a bright future ahead of him in WWE, but don\’t expect the Australian to celebrate any future big wins with something sweet. 

    Waller has become a regular on SmackDown, despite having yet to hold gold on either the main roster or in NXT. The Australian\’s partnership with Theory has been well-received by management, with both men expected to be elevated on the road to WrestleMania. Waller recently made headlines for protecting kayfabe in the face of an Australian morning show host. 

    Grayson Waller & The Cake

    Waller has an impressive physique fans can see each week on WWE TV but isn\’t immune to the occasional treat. During a recent appearance on the Boom Rookies podcast, Waller recalled working during a lengthy tour and intended to celebrate its completion with a delicious chocolate cake. 

    ”I put the knife into the cake and in walks Bobby Lashley. This man is a physical specimen. Huge human being, jacked to the gills. Me and Bobby hadn’t spoken much, and he walked in and looked at the cake. For like a good 15 seconds, an awkward amount of time. Then, this breaks my heart, he looked up at me and said, ‘Are you really going to have that?’ I kind of went, ‘I had a tour…’ He just walked away.\”

    Waller\’s interaction with Lashley was brief but had a profound effect on the former schoolteacher. 

    “I threw the cake in the bin. I haven’t gone for dessert at catering since. When I looked in his eyes, it looked like judgment. It looked like full judgment.”

    Grayson Waller recently found out a shocking truth about the United States… 

  • Watch Bret \’Gift-Man\’ Hart Deliver Amazon Packages To Lucky Canadians

    Bret Hart is the Best There Is, the Best There Was, and the Best There Ever Will Be when it comes to delivering gifts to some very lucky Amazon Prime members. 

    Hart teamed with the product-delivery giant this week to deliver items to the winners of Amazon\’s Giftmania contest. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer personally delivered items to various people who were thrilled to get their gifts and meet the Canadian wrestling legend. The gifts were from Amazon gift lists and recipients received gifts valued up to $300 by the \’GiftMan\’. 

    Amazon\’s Giftmania contest was created to celebrate ten years of Amazon Prime in Canada. The contest was first announced in November of last year, with the former WWF and WCW World Heavyweight Champion appearing in a promotional video. 

    Bret Hart Today

    The Hitman\’s days in the ring may be behind him, but Bret Hart continues to have an impact on the wrestling world. Last year, it was reported that Drew McIntyre\’s heel turn had been inspired by the Hitman\’s transformation in 1997. McIntyre slowly turned to the dark side as he was unwilling and unable to forgive Jey Uso for his past transgressions in the Bloodline. 

    The change mirrored Hart\’s heel turn in 1997 when fans began embracing ruder characters such as Shawn Michaels and Steve Austin to the chagrin of the clean-cut Hitman. More recently, Bret Hart became a grandfather yet again, and it didn\’t take Hart long to test his grandchild\’s wrestling skills. 

    Bret Hart is respected by countless wrestlers, but one top WWE Superstar hasn\’t been amazed by the Excellence of Execution… 

  • R-Truth Nearly Had Leg Amputated Due to Infection After Tearing Quad in 2022

    R-Truth\’s work with The Judgment Day has been a runaway success, but this only happened after the veteran nearly lost his leg to infection. 

    In November 2022, Truth suffered a torn quad during a WWE NXT match with Grayson Waller. The injury occurred after Truth attempted to dive over the top rope and was later confirmed to be a torn quadriceps. He would undergo surgery later that month and after a lengthy absence, returned to programming during the Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 broadcast. 

    R-Truth Nearly Loses His Leg

    Since recovering, Truth\’s work with The Judgment Day has been a hit with fans and is one of the most popular angles the company currently has going. During a recent appearance on The Ringer Wrestling Show, however, Truth explained how his injury nearly cost him his leg. 

    \”I had a hole in my knee. I had five different bacteria that caused the infection along with MRSA… It started off as a routine quad tear. I tore my bottom quad. They went in and I guess it could have happened during surgery. I went to get the stitches out and we found out that the bacteria, the infection, was eating from the inside out.\”

    Despite initial beliefs that the infection would be dealt with quickly, the disease continued to affect Truth\’s recovery. In the interview, Truth recalled months of intensive treatments and what the only other option was. 

    \”I had to have a wound VAC on. It was a VAC on my knee that kept sucking the old blood up and putting the new blood… It was a good four months or five months of just trying to kill the infection, slow it down, stop it, and I’m going mentally crazy because there was a chance, he said, the other option was amputation.\”

    Thankfully, the infection would clear and Truth would retain the use of his leg. The veteran is a 53-time WWE 24/7 Champion and a two-time WWE U.S. Champion. 

    R-Truth had a bit of help becoming an \’official\’ member of The Judgment Day… 

    H/T – POST Wrestling

  • Examining Seth Rollins\’ Torn MCL: Will He Miss WrestleMania 40?

    Update: SE Scoops\’ own Aaron Varble has been able to confirm that Seth Rollins is still slated for WrestleMania. The WWE creative team has not talked about any replacement scenarios yet. 

    The fate of Seth Rollins remains to be determined following a reported MCL tear on this week\’s episode of Monday Night Raw. 

    In the main event of the show, Rollins retained against Jinder Mahal. The match had a big-fight feel, thanks in part to Tony Khan\’s outburst about the booking of Mahal. Due to an injury, Mahal was seen limping and had to be helped to the back after the match. It was later confirmed that Rollins suffered a torn MCL and a meniscus injury. 

    Will Seth Rollins Miss WWE WrestleMania 40? 

    Seth Rollins will address fans about his situation on next week\’s episode of Raw, but we already have a notion as to how much time he may miss. If Rollins does miss any time, it will vary based on the severity of the MCL tear. As the Cleveland Clinic notes: 

    The time it takes to fully recover from an MCL tear depends on how severe the tear is. A grade 1 (mild) MCL tear usually heals within one to three weeks. A grade 2 (moderate) MCL tear generally takes four to six weeks to heal with treatment.

    \”A grade 3 (severe) MCL tear can take six weeks or more to heal with treatment. If you undergo surgery to fix your MCL tear, it could take longer.

    A grade 1 or grade 2 tear should give Rollins time to heal up before WrestleMania. A grade 3 tear could see WWE pulled from the show, forcing WWE to dramatically change plans. Surgery would likely guarantee that Rollins is pulled from the two-night spectacle in April. 

    WWE\’s Original Plans

    Since CM Punk\’s return at Survivor Series, Rollins has taken issue with the Best in the World. WWE\’s original plan was for the Rollins and Punk to face off at WrestleMania 40. While that is still seemingly the plan, everything hinges on what Rollins has to say on the upcoming episode of Raw.

    There\’s another bad sign for the reigning World Heavyweight Champion… 

  • Bayley Is The \’Mami-Slayer\’ & She\’s Coming for Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40

    Damage CTRL\’s Bayley has set her sights on the WWE Women\’s World Championship and hopes to capture the gold at WrestleMania 40. 

    On this week\’s SmackDown, Bayley sat on commentary for the Women\’s Tag Team Championship bout between champions Katana Chance & Kayden Carter and challengers Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. During her time behind the table, Bayley dubbed herself the \’Mami-Slayer\’ and vowed to win the Women\’s Royal Rumble. 

    Given that IYO SKY is the WWE Women\’s Champion, Bayley made it clear she plans to challenge Women\’s World Champion Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania. To add insult to injury, Bayley wore one of Ripley\’s shirts for the show. 

    Bayley Vs. Rhea Ripley

    Bayley and Rhea Ripley have shared the ring as opponents a total of four times. To date, their only singles match took place on the March 20, 2023, edition of Raw, and saw Ripley get the win. Their first encounter would be a triple-threat on the December 5, 2022, Raw alongside Asuka that Bayley would win. They have also competed in the 2021 and 2023 Women\’s Royal Rumble matches, the latter of which Ripley would win. 

    Another Challenger

    Bayley isn\’t the only Superstar with her sights set on The Judgment Day\’s resident Mami. On Raw this week, Becky Lynch confronted Rhea Ripley and made it clear she plans to win the Women\’s Rumble and challenge the Eradicator. Ripley, who had previously warned the roster not to waste their Rumble win by challenging her, said she is rooting for Lynch to win the match. 

    The 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble Match

    Bayley was the first Superstar to be declared for the Women\’s Royal Rumble Match. She is joined by Nia Jax and former Rumble winners Becky Lynch (2019 winner) and Bianca Belair (2021 winner.)

    Bayley plans on winning the Women\’s Royal Rumble match, unless… 

  • Trinity Fatu says TNA Changed Her Life in What May Be Her Final Promo (Exclusive)

    Trinity has been honored and privileged to be a part of the TNA Knockouts division, amid reports of her upcoming exit from the promotion. 

    The former Knockouts Champion is expected to finish with TNA soon and swiftly return to WWE. Trinity (then Naomi) walked out of WWE alongside Mercedes Mone (Sasha Banks) over creative differences in 2022. Trinity was expected to return to WWE in the upcoming Women\’s Royal Rumble match, but that is far less certain now. 

    Trinity\’s TNA Promo

    At the most recent tapings of TNA Wrestling, Trinity was scheduled to go one-on-one with Gisele Shaw. The match instead saw Trinity and Jordynne Grace face Shaw and Savannah Evans. Grace dethroned Trinity at Hard to Kill 2024 in a match that took an emotional toll on the former champ. After the tag-team match, Trinity grabbed the mic and addressed the crowd.

    \”Coming to TNA has been life-changing for me, both inside and outside the ring. I feel honored to work with such a strong division and an incredible group of women. Wow, what a champion we have here on our hands! [gestures to Jordynne Grace, crowd chants \’Jordan\’] And when all of y\’all think of TNA, I want you to think of me. Trini-TNA! Thank you for coming out, we love you!\” 

    Jordynne Grace added that Trinity and her made for one hell of a match and that while they may be in the ring, the fans are the most important part of the show. Grace concluded that they\’ll see everyone tomorrow as they \’Cross the Line\’ once more and the crowd chanted TNA to close out the show. 

    The show was an especially emotional one for Trinity, whose family were also at the event. 

  • Kazuchika Okada in WWE? Exiting NJPW Star Dreams of WrestleMania Match

    Kazuchika Okada dreams of competing at WrestleMania, and that\’s a dream that those in WWE management are well aware of. 

    This week, it was confirmed that Okada\’s tenure with New Japan Pro Wrestling will finish at the end of this month. While his contract will run out on January 31, Okada will compete at the NJPW New Beginnings events scheduled for February. Okada is a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion and two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. He is the only person to hold the latter title more than once. 

    Is Kazuchika Okada WWE Bound? 

    WWE has had interest in Okada for some time and has sought to win him over in recent months. The push of Shinsuke Nakamura in late 2023 was reportedly an effort to show Okada that Japanese talent can thrive in WWE. Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports Triple H and Shawn Michaels have \”significant interest\” in bringing Okada on board. 

    Multiple sources close to NJPW revealed that he has always wanted to perform at a WrestleMania, a dream Triple H is aware of. The belief is that should a match happen, AJ Styles or Finn Balor would be the right opponents for Okada\’s WrestleMania match. Both men have pre-existing relationships with Okada thanks to their respective NJPW runs. 

    Is Okada All-Elite? 

    WWE may want Okada, but AEW also has its sights set on the Japanese star. Okada has worked with AEW in the past via the Forbidden Door crossover events with New Japan. He is also close with AEW EVPs Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks. Okada has formed a rivalry and friendship with Bryan Danielson, whom he faced at Forbidden Door II in 2023 and earlier this month at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Okada also competed on an October 2023, edition of Dynamite. 

  • WWE Sources Hopeful For Mercedes Mone in 2024 Women\’s Royal Rumble (Report)

    Mercedes Mone is currently a woman without a contract, but some in WWE believe a Royal Rumble return could happen. 

    Mone debuted for NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2023, but her contract has since expired. While there were talks with WWE, the two sides could not come to terms over money. 

    A WWE Royal Rumble Surprise? 

    With her talks with WWE fizzling out, many suspect that Mone will join AEW soon enough. There is an expectation within AEW that she\’ll be joining after finishing up some acting commitments this month, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports. 

    With that said, nothing has been made certain at this time. The Observer adds that some in WWE believe there\’s still a shot she could make a surprise return in the upcoming Women\’s Royal Rumble match. One name who\’d certainly want to see Mone make a return is Bayley, her friend and former tag-team partner. The Damage CTRL member recently spoke at length about her deep connection to Mone.

    Mercedes Mone in the Royal Rumble

    Mone competed as Sasha Banks in two Women\’s Royal Rumble matches. The Boss has the distinction of being the first entrant in the first Women\’s Rumble in 2018, and would also enter at #1 in 2022. Mone has spent a total 1:04:30 in Royal Rumble matches and has a total of five eliminations to her name. 

    Royal Rumble 2024

    Here is the card for the WWE 2024 Royal Rumble PLE as it currently stands: 

    • Men\’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, GUNTHER. 
    • Women\’s Royal Rumble match (Confirmed entrants: Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax)
    • Roman Reigns (c) (with Paul Heyman) vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship) 
    • Logan Paul (c) vs. Kevin Owens (WWE United States Championship)

    Who should fans expect to see return at the Royal Rumble… 

  • WWE Considering Rock/Rhodes/Reigns Triple Threat for WrestleMania 40 (Report)

    The richest prize in WWE could be decided in a triple-threat at WrestleMania 40, featuring some of the biggest stars of the company\’s past and present. 

    WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, marking the fourth two-night event in the show\’s history. For Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, it will mark his fourth WrestleMania in a row during the same title reign (should he retain at next week\’s Royal Rumble). Reigns captured the title at Payback 2020 and his WrestleMania defense has seen him best Edge & Daniel Bryan (in 2021), Brock Lesnar (in 2022), and Cody Rhodes last year. 

    Two Worthy Contenders

    Up until recently, it seemed destined that Rhodes would challenge (and dethrone) Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, finishing his story in the process. Many have speculated that Rhodes\’ heartbreaking loss at WrestleMania 39 happened so that his big moment (and the end of Reigns\’ historic Undisputed WWE Universal Championship reign) would happen on the 40th-anniversary milestone. 

    Cody\’s road to WrestleMania hit a serious obstacle during the Day 1 Raw when The Rock returned to WWE and teased coming for Reigns\’ spot as The Tribal Chief. WWE had Reigns Vs. Rock \’locked in\’ at one point for WrestleMania 39 before plans changed. 

    WWE\’s Plans

    While we don\’t know who Roman Reigns will face at WrestleMania, it will be either The Rock or Cody Rhodes, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports. WWE have yet to make up their mind about the match. The report adds that WWE is also considering a triple threat between the three men. 

    Rhodes will enter the Men\’s Royal Rumble match next week, a bout he won in 2023. The same show will see Reigns defend the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. Despite rumors of The Rock appearing at next month\’s Elimination Chamber: Perthy event, the Great One is not scheduled for the Australian PLE. 

  • Randy Orton RKO\’s Cameraman In Eladio Carrión\’s \’RKO\’ Music Video

    Countless WWE Superstars have fallen victim to Randy Orton\’s RKO, and the Viper recently busted out the move in a new music video. 

    Orton returned to WWE programming at last year\’s Survivor Series: WarGames event after over a year away. The Viper was off TV due to a severe back injury and had been advised to retire by doctors at one point. Orton\’s comeback saw himself, Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins, Cody Rhodes, Jey Uso, and Sami Zayn defeat The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre. 

    Randy Orton RKO\’s in RKO

    Orton features as himself in \’RKO\’ the new music video for the track of the same name by Eladio Carrión. The track sees Carrión talk about celebrating his wins to those who doubted him, adding that he caught those haters by surprise like Orton with the RKO. 

    The Apex Predator appears over halfway through the video and RKO\’s a cameraman hoping to snap a picture of Carrión, who in the video is a baseball star. Orton admits to being a huge fan of Carrión. Orton makes it clear that if Eladio Carrión needs anything, he\’s ready to help out. You can check Orton\’s role in the video below.

    The History of the RKO

    Orton is hardly the first wrestler to adopt the \’Cutter\’ as his finisher. Variations include the Ace Crusher, which was used by John \’Johnny Ace\’ Lauriniatis. \’Diamond\’ Dallas Page would make opponents feel the bang with the \’Diamond Cutter\’ while \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin would leave opponents decimated with the \’Stone Cold\’ Stunner. 

    What drove Randy Orton to use the RKO as a finisher…