SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Wrestling Revolver & House Of Glory To Host Joint Show Over WrestleMania Weekend

    Pro Wrestling Revolver and House of Glory Wrestling will come together to host a giant show during the weekend of WrestleMania 40. 

    On Twitter, it was announced that the two companies will host an event on April 5, from Philadelphia, PA, the home of WWE\’s upcoming two-night megashow. More details about the event are set to be released very soon. 

    Wrestling Revolver & House of Glory

    Wrestling Revolver was founded in 2016 by Sami Callihan. The promotion\’s next event will take place on January 25 from Dayton, Ohio. Upcoming events are set for Grand Prarie, Texas, and Clive, Iowa. 

    House of Glory Wrestling was created by Amazing Red but is currently owned by Master P. The promotion\’s current World Heavyweight Champion is Mike Santana, who defeated Matt Cardona at The Darkest Hour 2023 last month. 

    WWE WrestleMania Weekend

    The city of Brotherly Love will have more than its fair share of pro-wrestling entertainment this April. The same night as the Revolver/HOG Wrestling show, WWE will host its SmackDown show and the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The Saturday will feature WWE NXT Stand & Deliver & WWE WrestleMania 40: Night One, while Night Two will take place on the Sunday. The action won\’t stop there with Monday Night Raw set for April 8. 

    With WrestleMania set for Philadelphia, an ECW experience has been announced for the weekend. ECW legend Masato Tanaka is also coming to Philly and plans to wrestle during the weekend. 

    Cody Rhodes recently went the extra mile for some fortunate young fans… 

  • \”She is Ash… By Elegance\” TNA Knockout to Make In-Ring Debut This Week

    Fans have learned more about TNA\’s newest Knockout Ash By Elegance, who is set to make her in-ring debut for the promotion very soon. 

    Elegance debuted for TNA at the recent Hard to Kill pay-per-view, which also served as the promotion\’s relaunch. She is best known for her time as Dana Brooke in WWE, where she competed from 2015 to 2023. The bodybuilder-turned-wrestler became a 15-time WWE 24/7 Champion before being released among others in September of last year. 

    She is Ash… By Elegance

    During this week\’s episode of TNA iMPACT! on AXS TV, fans, Elegance was featured in a video promo resembling a perfume campaign. A voice-over said how Ash\’s \”caress raises goosebumps\”. The elegant Knockout was described as a \”hurricane force of nature\” and \”undeniable\” in addition to being \”irresistible\” and \”unforgettable.\” 

    Ash By Elegance\’s TNA In-Ring Debut

    Ash By Elegance has had fans talking and is set to make her TNA Wrestling in-ring debut later this week. The elegant Knockout will compete at this Saturday\’s show from Osceola Heritage Park in Orlando, Florida. 

    This will be the first match for Ash By Elegance under her new ring-name, and her first match since September. Her most recent bout to date saw Elegance (then Dana Brooke) lose to Lyra Valkyria on the September, 12, edition of WWE NXT. 

    General Admission for the Saturday show starts at $35 with the most expensive tickets selling for $80. More information about the show can be found here.  

    What does Ash By Elegance make to comparisons to a certain AEW star…

  • \’Wanted Man\’ Nic Nemeth: \”I am Going to Become TNA World Champion\”

    Nic Nemeth made his goals in TNA abundantly clear during the Wanted Man\’s first promo since arriving in the company. 

    In the main event of TNA Hard to Kill, Moose dethroned Alex Shelley to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. After the match, Nemeth made his debut by confronting the new champion in the ring. Nemeth would end the show by celebrating with the fans and ripping his shirt off to reveal the TNA shirt underneath. 

    Nic Nemeth is Coming for the TNA World Championship

    After his thrilling debut at TNA Hard to Kill, fans were excited to hear what the former WWE World Champion had to say. On this week\’s iMPACT! On AXS TV, Nemeth reflected on his past, and his arrival in TNA, and gave a very clear message about his future plans. 

    \”I was very fortunate to rack up a lot of accomplishments in 19 years, but I did it all in one world [WWE]. So I\’ve got to admit to you guys, this start right here, this is a little intimidating. I\’ve got some emotions running through.You say I\’ve still got it, I never lost it.

    \”I\’m intimidated, I\’m scared. I\’m nervous. I\’m excited. And make no mistake about it, I picked my time and place. I showed up in this ring and I lined up face-to-face with the TNA World Champion. And, I am going to become TNA World Champion.\”

    What\’s Next for Nic Nemeth? 

    Nemeth\’s debut match will take place on next week\’s episode of TNA iMPACT! where he will face Zachary Wentz. The show will also see Kazuchika Okada & Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. The System (Moose, Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards). In a rematch from TNA Hard to Kill, new Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace will defend against Trinity.

    TNA Wrestling isn\’t the only place fans will be able to see the Wanted Man in action… 

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

  • Kazuchika Okada Leaving NJPW, Tells Fans to “Keep Watching”

    The 16-year run of Kazuchika Okada with New Japan Pro Wrestling will end very soon, the promotion has confirmed Thursday evening. 

    Okada debuted for New Japan in 2007 and has since gone on to become one of the promotion\’s biggest stars. He is a five-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion where his fourth reign with the championship is the longest in history at 720 days.

    He is also a two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, having held the gold more times than any other wrestler. Currently, he is one-third of the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champions.

    Kazuchika Okada is leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling

    In a statement, New Japan confirmed that Okada\’s contract will expire on January 31. Despite this, Okada will appear on February dates on February 11 in Osaka, and February 23 and 24 in Sapporo as part of the New Beginning series of events. 

    New Japan apologized for the abrupt nature of this announcement. In a statement, Okada was thankful for his NJPW tenure: 

    \”I have nothing but gratitude for having been a part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling since 2007, and for NJPW bringing me from a 19 year old kid off the plane in Mexico to the Rainmaker I am today. Thank you to the best of companies in NJPW, to the best of opponents that I’ve been able to face here, and to the best of fans that have cheered and booed over the years. I promise to make it rain in every match I have left, so keep watching.\”

    What could be next for the career of Kazuchika Okada… 

  • EC3: CYN Faced Frivolous Lies & Sabotage, Banning Moves Was Genius

    Control Your Narrative faced saboteurs looking to strike down the company and the genius plans involved, according to promotion co-founder EC3.

    Following his release from WWE in 2020 which came after a doomed main-roster run, EC3 would host his own \’Free the Narrative\’ pay-per-views and would speak at length about wanting to control his own narrative. In February 2022, EC3 and Adam \’Braun Strowman\’ Scherr announced Control Your Narrative, a new promotion taking inspiration from the film \’Fight Club.\’

    The Sabotage of CYN

    The announcement of CYN was met with ridicule by some fans, who poked fun at the overly serious nature of the promotion as well as the idea of talent booking their own storylines. CYN\’s \’rules\’ also drew derision from fans, including the \’rule\’ your fight isn\’t with your opponent, but with yourself. Speaking on the Insight podcast, EC3 claimed that some of the bad press the promotion received came from acts of sabotage. 

    \”What is a professional wrestler\’s number one job? This is an Al Snow question… To get attention, right? It\’s about getting attention. And yeah, there\’s good attention and there\’s bad attention. It [Control Your Narrative] received bad attention but that attention was all based on frivolous lies and people trying to sabotage something before it even started.

    \”Because, in theory, we did make some strong waves and provided something unique, where once you become a threat in the industry, you are sought to be destroyed before you grow.\”

    Banning Moves

    One of the most derided aspects of CYN\’s rulebook was the outlawing of certain moves, including the superkick and the suicide dive. On the podcast, EC3 stuck to his guns and explained why these bans were a smart call. 

    \”It is still the most genius concept I have. Because on the surface, you\’re overreacting to something where you don\’t understand or haven\’t seen the content develop. It\’s probably my fault you don\’t understand because the content wasn\’t readily available. But, I banned the superkick, the suicide dive, and the Canadian destroyer. And the reasons were because those moves are so cool. But they\’re so overdone, that they\’ve lost their meaning.

    \”If you watch our CYN show in Dallas. We had this big multi-man match where somebody who does the superkick was out of position. Thought about it, couldn\’t do it. Something [like that] happens, their instincts kick in. They hit the superkick. BOOM! Nails somebody, he\’s out. That dude [the kicker] gets disqualified.

    \”So as he\’s getting thrown out of the building, another guy comes in, pins him [the wrestler who was kicked] because the kick was so effective, that it left that man devastated. So it [banning moves] wasn\’t to hate superkicks, it\’s just we\’re doing them so much. They have so much value if we do them right.

    \”Same with the suicide dive… You can do whatever you want. Just don\’t go flying through the middle rope. But then the idea of that too, was I had somebody go for it. They missed and they got stretchered out of the building because it was so devastating and they didn\’t hit it. 

    It\’s been over a year since CYN held its most recent event. While not confirmed, the future of the promotion looks increasingly bleak, especially considering that Strowman returned to WWE in September 2022. 

    EC3 is now the NWA\’s top star, but there\’s been resentment in that promotion… 

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

  • WWE Teaming With ACP to Help Veterans, Montez Ford Is Nonprofit\’s First Athlete Mentor

    WWE SmackDown Superstar Montez Ford is proud to partner with the ACP to help service veterans transition into civilian careers. 

    The ACP (American Corporate Partners) is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping returning veterans and active-duty spouses. ACP often organizes professional developmental mentorship programs that allow those seeking help to learn valuable work and life skills from experts. 

    The program was launched in 2008 and to date, over 30,000 veterans and spouses have completed mentorship programs. These include access to résumé building and interview preparation, career exploration, networking opportunities, small business development, and leadership and professional communication resources

    Montez Ford and ACP

    In a press release, WWE announced that Ford will be the first pro athlete to serve as a registered mentor for ACP. Ford who served in the United States Marine Corps before coming to WWE, said it was an honor to be part of the program. 

    “WWE has a long-standing history of supporting our nation’s active service members, veterans, and their families. It is an honor to represent WWE as part of this partnership with ACP and its outstanding mentorship program.”

    Sidney E. Goodfriend, Chairman of ACP, was excited about the partnership between WWE and the nonprofit organization. 

    “All of us at ACP are excited to begin our partnership with WWE. Frequently our post 9/11 veteran proteges seek career guidance in the field of entertainment and we are delighted to be able to provide them with mentors from a top leader in the industry.”

    Montez Ford is a former U.S. Marine, but he isn\’t the only name in professional wrestling to serve their country… 

  • Ash By Elegance on Toni Storm Comparrions: \”Relax Everyone, It\’s a Hair Style\”

    TNA Wrestling\’s Ash By Elegance is hoping for some calm from fans who have wasted no time in comparing her to AEW\’s \’Timeless\’ Toni Storm. 

    Elegance debuted for TNA Wrestling at last week\’s Hard to Kill event. She is best known for her tenure with WWE from 2015 to 2023 where she worked as Dana Brooke. The elegant wrestler became a 15-time WWE 24/7 Champion before she was among those released in September of last year. 

    Elegance Responds to Toni Storm Comparrisons 

    Ash By Elegance was certainly dressed to impress at TNA Hard to Kill, as she wore a bedazzled outfit complimented with a fur coat. On-point makeup completed her look which some fans found too similar to the reigning AEW Women\’s World Champion. On social media, fans argued that Elegance is ripping off Storm, whose Hollywood starlet character has been a hit with audiences. In a tweet of her own, Ash By Elegance shared her response. 

    Ash By Elegance: What Do We Know? 

    TNA\’s most elegant Knockout didn\’t arrive to Hard to Kill alone. Elegance was accompanied by a manager (which some have seen as TNA\’s answer to Luther.) This mystery individual is George Iceman. In his Instagram bio, Iceman describes himself as an on-air personality for TNA Wrestling. He also claims that he is the manager of a future TNA Knockouts World Champion. 

    Elegance told Busted Open Radio this week that this new persona is a \”different side of me.\” She vowed to \”show everyone what class and elegance really means\” and bring all of these traits to her matches. So far, TNA has not confirmed when Ash By Elegance will make her in-ring debut.

  • The Young Bucks Are Tired Of \”Self-Serving Superficial, Cancerous Superstars\”

    The Young Bucks didn\’t hold back in their comments on this week\’s Dynamite, which some believe was about a certain Chicago-Made punk. 

    During last week\’s Dynamite, the Bucks returned to programming following a hiatus and had a staredown with Darby Allin and Sting. While not confirmed, it is believed the Bucks will face Allin and the Icon at AEW Revolution 2024. The March pay-per-view will mark three years since Sting\’s wrestling debut for AEW and will see the WWE Hall of Famer\’s last match. 

    The Young Bucks Are Tired

    On this week\’s Dynamite, the Bucks demonstrated their new, serious personas, which falls in line with 2023 reports stating that the pair would have a darker side upon returning. In a sit-down interview with Renee Paquette, the Bucks spoke about how AEW has changed under their watch, and how that change occurred. Matt said: 

    \”We did lose our way, it was like the culture shifted and toxicity creeped into the locker rooms, and the perception of the company, it was just different. I think I know why. We started to lean on yesterday\’s self-serving, superficial, cancerous superstars.\”

    Many fans have seen this comment as a nod to CM Punk, who the Bucks would butt heads with in AEW. The Bucks and Punk would be on opposite sides during the infamous AEW All Out 2022 brawl that would see all three men (and others) suspended. 

    Not only does Punk fit the \’Superstar\’ moniker given his recent return to WWE, but the \”cancerous\” line is seemingly a knock at the Best in the World. Chris Jericho would call Punk a cancer following the All Out fight. Shortly after, WWE\’s Seth Rollins would use the same verbiage when calling for Punk to stay away from WWE. 

    Fans Respond

    You can check out some of the responses by fans to this week\’s promo below:

    https://twitter.com/DoubleDragonXP/status/1747805309123338671https://twitter.com/SolitaireRose/status/1747805769142055109

    Despite Rollins\’ warning, Punk did return to WWE, which Rollins wasn\’t happy with… 

  • Samoa Joe Marks First AEW World Title Defense With Win Over HOOK

    The AEW World Championship reign of Samoa Joe is off to a strong start following a hard-fought victory over HOOK on this week\’s Dynamite. 

    Joe has held the gold since December 30 when AEW held its first Worlds End pay-per-view. At that event, Samoa Joe won the AEW World Championship from MJF, ending the latter\’s record-breaking reign. After the match, Adam Cole would be revealed as the Devil with Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow as his minions.

    Samoa Joe Vs. HOOK

    In the main event of this week\’s Dynamite, Joe defended his gold against HOOK. Thanks to a sponsorship from the new Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League video game (in which Joe voices King Shark), the match aired commercial-free. 

    Joe dominated early on, and would put HOOK through the announce table, though the second-generation wrestler responded by flipping off the champ. This earned HOOK a powerbomb onto the apron, though he was able to make it back to the ring. 

    HOOK mounted a comeback and was able to kick out of a Muscle Buster at one, to the surprise of Joe and the crowd. In the end, the Coquina Clutch sealed the win for the champion, but Joe looked shocked at how much it took to put HOOK away.

    After the Match

    Despite his defeat, HOOK refused to stay down and trash-talked Joe after the match. This earned the FTW Champion another beatdown. Before more damage could be done, \’Hangman\’ Adam Page and Swerve Strickland arrived on the scene and Joe walked away. Both Page and Strickland have made it clear they intend to challenge Joe for the AEW World Championship when the time is right. 

  • Samoa Joe: CM Punk-Jack Perry Fight Was \”A Little Bit Of An Incident\” And Nothing More

    CM Punk & Jack Perry fought backstage at AEW All In 2023, but the pair did not have some epic showdown according to Samoa Joe. 

    The infamous brawl would take place after Perry\’s kick-off match with HOOK, in which the former Jungle Boy referred to using real glass. Punk, who has previously made clear his opposition to using real glass, would confront Perry about the comment, resulting in a fight.

    Samoa Joe On All In Brawl

    Much like the brawl at AEW All Out 2022, the fight at Wembley Stadium would dominate headlines and in the eyes of many, would overshadow AEW\’s historic international event. Despite threatening to quit AEW on the spot, Punk would compete in the All In main-card opening contest against Samoa Joe. In a recent interview with ESPN, the reigning AEW World Champion played down the notion that the fight between Perry and Punk was some massive spectacle. 

    “There was a little bit of an incident. We got it broken up. We went out there and wrestled, man. That’s the gist of it. Everybody wants it to be a lot more than what it is, but that’s what it was. And to speak any more on it would be pointless unless you’re trying to get a scorecard and stuff — but trust me, it wasn’t that type of a fight.”

    What Happened Next? 

    After a brief investigation, Tony Khan made the call for Punk\’s AEW contract to be terminated. Ahead of a Collision taping in Punk\’s native Chicago, Khan explained to the fans that he was fearing for his life backstage at All In. Punk would return to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 and has since been one of the promotion\’s top Superstars. 

    Jack Perry, like Punk, was suspended following AEW All In. While his suspension reportedly ended months ago, Perry has not returned to AEW programming. Instead, Perry recently debuted for NJPW where he tore up an AEW contract. 

  • Dustin Rhodes Says His Legacy Isn\’t Goldust, AEW or Championships. It\’s His Sobriety

    Dustin Rhodes has accomplished plenty in the world of professional wrestling, but his consistent sobriety is the veteran\’s greatest accomplishment.

    Rhodes is perhaps best known for his WWE tenure as the bizarre Goldust but has also competed for WCW and other promotions. In 2019, Rhodes joined AEW as a wrestler and also works as a coach for the promotion.

    Like many wrestlers, Rhodes has faced struggles and dealt with addiction to alcohol and substances. In an episode of The Sessions, Rhodes shared that medicating to recover from a 1996 injury would set him down a destructive path. Thankfully, Rhodes has been able to overcome addiction and has proudly been sober for over 15 years.

    Dustin Rhodes on his legacy

    Speaking to veteran sports journalist Justin Barrasso for Sports Illustrated, Rhodes noted his sobriety as the most long-lasting accolade he has.

    \”My sobriety, that’s my legacy. And I understand it’s OK to have bad days. There will be better ones. Life has been an incredible teacher. I’ve learned a lot, and I plan on being clean and sober for the rest of my life.\”

    Rhodes also reflected on his years of addiction and the toll it took on him and his career.

    “I wasn’t seeing clearly back in the day, and I paid for it heavily. Sometimes, I’m still trying to prove myself, even when I don’t need to. I came out the other side. The devil is still sitting here, right on my shoulder. All’s I need to do is walk with him. But each new day, I tell him, ‘No, I’m going to be good today.’ So I’m not going to drink. I’m not going to do drugs. I have my sh– together, and I’m fixin’ to get on with my life.\”

    Rhodes will face Christian Cage for the TNT Championship on tonight\’s AEW Dynamite. The match will be the first singles encounter between the two veterans since 2003.

  • Ex-NWA Star Madi Wrenkowski Makes WWE In-Ring Debut With New Name On 1/16 NXT

    Fans who tuned into this week\’s WWE NXT caught their first glimpse of Madi Wrenkowski in a WWE ring, and she now has a new name. 

    The January 16, 2024, edition of WWE NXT saw the gold brand start the journey toward NXT Vengeance Day. That event will take place on February 4, from the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville, Tennessee. During this week\’s show, it was confirmed that NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov will defend at Vengeance Day against Trick Williams. The pair were set to face off at New Year\’s Evil but the match was postponed. 

    WWE NXT In-Ring Debut

    This week\’s NXT was headlined by a women\’s battle royal with a unique stipulation. The final four in the match would advance to a four-way, with the winner earning a shot at the NXT Women\’s Championship. For the match, Madi Wrenkowski, a former NWA star, made her in-ring debut for WWE NXT under her new name Wren Sinclair. While she appeared on last week\’s NXT, this match marked her in-ring debut for the promotion. 

    Unfortunately for Sinclair, she would not make it to the final four. Instead, the four-way was comprised of Roxanne Perez, Fallon Henley, Kiana James, and Kelani Jordan. Perez got the win and will challenge NXT Women\’s Champion Lyra Valkyria at NXT Vengeance Day. 

    Madi Wrenkowski In the Ring

    Wrenkowski is a former MPW Tag Team Champion and won the titles with Rache Chanel in May of 2022. Their reign was the longest in the short history of the promotion. Wrenkowski vacated her title last month, which sparked more speculation that she had signed with WWE. 

    Wrenkowski was also NWA Women\’s Tag Team Champion from February to August of this year and held the titles with Missa Kate. The pair lost the titles at the NWA 75th Anniversary show on August 27, 2023, in St. Louis, MO. She has also appeared on episodes of AEW Dark. 

  • Ash By Elegance: I Honestly Think WWE Didn\’t Believe In Dana Brooke

    Ash By Elegance spent close to a decade as part of WWE, but the former Superstar believes that higher-ups simply didn\’t believe in her. 

    Elegance competed as Dana Brooke from 2015 to 2023 before her release from the promotion last September. At Hard to Kill 2024, the Elegant wrestler made her debut for TNA Wrestling. She would also debut her new ring name at the event. 

    Ash By Elegance On Her WWE Run

    Brooke spent close to a decade competing in a WWE ring but rarely received any pushes from the company. On a recent edition of Busted Open Radio, Elegance spoke about feeling overlooked by most people in WWE. 

    “I honestly think they didn’t believe in me. You know, producers, T.J. [Wilson] was a very big advocate for me and he would always be like, ‘Dana can do it, Dana can do it, Dana can do it’ and it just — it wasn’t happening and I wasn’t that girl. I wasn’t the girl that they were trying to push to that next level. [I] was the one that I was always given to take the pin fall and I was okay with it, thinking in my mind, there’s gonna be a shot. There’s gonna be that next time and there just never was that next time.”

    Elegance also recalled a spot she pitched that WWE turned down, deeming the move simply too unsafe despite her credentials.

    \”It was 2018 or ‘19 in the Money in the Bank match where I wanted to hang from the briefcase and swing from it and fall and a pile of girls catch me and they’re like, ‘No, no, no. That’s a little too dangerous.’ I’m like, ‘Do you not know I was in gymnastics for 18 years?… Just let me do it’ and it would be a wow factor and I just don’t think that they had the confidence in me.”

    There is credence to the notion that WWE had no intentions to elevate Dana Brooke. In April 2023, it was reported that WWE confiscated a fan\’s sign reading \’Give Dana Brooke A Chance.\’

    H/T – POST Wrestling

  • Cora Jade Injury Update: WWE confirms she\’ll miss up to a year

    WWE NXT Superstar Cora Jade will be out of action for close to a year after suffering a torn ACL during a recent live event. 

    During the January 16, 2024, edition of WWE NXT, the gold brand confirmed reports that Jade had been injured at an untelevised show. It was confirmed that Jade suffered a torn ACL. She is slated to miss up to a year of in-ring action. The injury occurred during a match between Jade and NXT Women\’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. During this week\’s show, however, it was stated that Jade wrestled and lost to someone else.

    This is a huge setback for Jade who only recently made her return to programming. At NXT Deadline last month Jade attacked NXT Women\’s Champion Lyra Valkyria in her first appearance since July. Valkyria had been involved in a staredown with Blair Davenport, who had won the women\’s Iron Survivor Challenge match to earn an NXT Women\’s Championship shot against the Valkyrie. 

    Is WWE\’s Training Unsafe? 

    Jade\’s injury will once again raise questions regarding the safety of the training WWE provides at its Performance Center. Jade is the latest woman to be taken out with a torn ACL. Amari Miller, Arianna Grace, Nikkita Lyons, and Yulisa Leon have all suffered ACL tears as part of WWE NXT. It\’ll be important for WWE to find the balance between conditioning talent for the future while also not pushing them beyond their current limits. 

    Cora Jade recently reunited with an old hero of hers… 

  • R-Truth: I Like Being Funny, the 24/7 Championship Was My Playground

    WWE\’s 24/7 Championship may not have been to everyone\’s taste, but R-Truth had a blast defending the unique piece of gold. 

    The 24/7 Championship was introduced in 2019 and was immediately met with negative responses from fans who took issue with the design. Shortly after however, the title would become a highlight of WWE programming with various comedy segments leading to title changes. After a while though, the momentum would die down and the title would become less relevant on programming. 

    R-Truth on the 24/7 Championship

    R-Truth would become synonymous with the 24/7 Championship, as he\’d have more reigns and hold the title for longer than anyone else on the roster. Speaking on the Busted Open Radio podcast, Truth recalled being approached about the title and the initial response from fans. 

    \”They gave me a call. They called me and said \’Hey, they want you to go to SmackDown.\’ No, I was on SmackDown as a matter of fact, they want you to go to Raw and do a backstage promo. Didn\’t tell me what it was. When I got to Raw. I saw Mick [Foley] pull that thing out of the bag like that right. And everybody said that thing was ugly. Everybody thought it was ugly. Nobody even liked it. It had a different look, we\’re gonna say that. It just looked different.\”

    Despite the backlash, Truth had no issue with the title as he\’s always relished in flexing his comedic chops. 

    \”I like laughing I like being funny. And y\’all give me an opportunity to make things funny. That was just my playground right that moment. All the things myself, the writers was coming up with was just like, we [were] just hitting home runs. There was no rules when it came to 24/7 title man. If it was rules, we broke them all and I think people were just loving that.\”

    The 24/7 Championship was retired in late 2022 in a decision by Triple H. The title\’s end saw Nikki Cross (nearly) throw it in a trash can. 

  • Jinder Mahal Really Regrets Spending So Much On A World Heavyweight Title Celebration

    Jinder Mahal is likely hoping he can get a refund for all the extra Pyro he ordered after this week\’s Monday Night Raw didn\’t go his way. 

    In the main event, Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jinder Mahal in a hard-fought match for both men. The bout had one of the biggest \’big fight feels\’ fans have seen in some time, thanks in part to Tony Khan\’s recent outburst.

    The match saw plenty of creative add-ons that made a title change look possible, with Indus Sher providing backup for Mahal. Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest would also make his presence felt at ringside but was neutralized by Drew McIntyre. 

    Jinder Mahal Reacts

    Mahal didn\’t shock the world for the second time on this week\’s Raw, and was left with some buyer\’s remorse after the match. On Twitter, Mahal regretted ordering a ton of pyro for his championship celebration. 

    Mahal won\’t be celebrating this week, but had he won the World Heavyweight Championship, it would\’ve gone something like this. 

    World Heavyweight Title in Jeopardy

    Seth Rollins retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, but his reign could be in serious jeopardy. Rollins is believed to have suffered an injury during this week\’s main event match. The Architect was helped to the back after the match and was seen limping. Rollins will undergo an MRI to examine the extent of this potential injury. WWE has not given a statement on Rollins\’ condition at this time. 

    Seth Rollins\’ beef with CM Punk isn\’t just for the WWE cameras… 

  • Bayley Was Shocked by CM Punk\’s Return, Thought AJ Lee Would\’ve Said Something

    Bayley was as shocked as the WWE Universe to see CM Punk return to WWE, as her friend/mentor AJ Lee gave no hints leading up to the show.

    Punk made his shocking return to WWE in the closing moments of Survivor Series: WarGames 2023, which took place in Punk\’s hometown of Chicago, IL. The event marked Punk\’s first time appearing in front of a WWE crowd since walking out of the company following the 2014 Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The show also marked Punk\’s first appearance at a wrestling event following his firing from AEW in September.

    Bayley on CM Punk\’s Return

    WWE went to great measures to keep CM Punk\’s return to WWE under wraps. In a recent interview with the New York Post, Bayley recalled her reaction and the atmosphere backstage.

    “Someone has it on film somewhere, I’m watching the monitor and his music hit, I frick’n went crazy. I’m like, no way did they actually do this. I ran into Gorilla [position] to go say hi to him and he was so happy.”

    The Damage CTRL member admitted that she was extra surprised as she keeps in contact with Punk\’s wife AJ Lee, who had kept mum on the return of her husband.

    “I didn’t text her [before]. Everybody reads online, but I was like there’s no way. This is crazy…  And I was like, wait, no, it’s not gonna happen. He would have said something. She would have said something.”

    Bayley on AJ Lee Returning

    With CM Punk a WWE Superstar again, fans are buzzing over the possibility of AJ Lee returning to the ring. In the interview, Bayley shared her own excitement that the former Divas Champion could lace up her boots again. 

    \”He gives me the best hugs. He’s like, ‘This one’s from me. This one’s from April.’ It’s nice to have him there but it makes me want her around. So I’m like, ‘Hey what’s up? What are you doing? Are you gonna hang out with us?’ ‘Sorry, I’m watching [our dog] Larry’”

    What\’s Next?

    Punk will make his televised in-ring return later this month as part of the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match. Bayley will be part of the Women\’s Royal Rumble match. Neither Superstar has won a Rumble match to date. The WWE 2024 Royal Rumble event will take place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. 

    Would Bayley let AJ Lee win the Women\’s Royal Rumble match… 

  • Lexis King: I Spent So Much Of AEW Run Doubting My Worth

    AEW may have proved to be pivotal in the career of Lexis King, but the NXT Superstar experienced the worst case of self-doubt of his career while he was \’All-Elite.\’

    King signed with WWE NXT last year shortly after his tenure with AEW came to an end. King made his in-ring debut for WWE at an NXT live event and has quickly become one of the most prominently featured stars on the roster. 

    Lexis King on His Self-Doubt

    King has quickly become a top guy in NXT, in stark contrast to his tenure with AEW. On the latest edition of the Insight podcast, King spoke about making his WWE NXT TV debut and how he\’d felt in AEW. 

    \”It [his WWE NXT TV debut] was great. I was just sitting in it and I\’m backstage thinking \’Is this real?\’ I spent, and this isn\’t a knock on anybody, but I spent so many months of my career at the previous company, just second-guessing myself. Am I really any good? Am I worth it? A lot of self-doubt. And just to see how my career has done a total 180 since then [is incredible].

    \”I went from just sitting in the back and filming a few dark matches in Orlando here and there. Six-minute tag matches, barely getting in the ring and feeling the canvas to now, I\’m sitting on a throne, making my entrance. In the biggest wrestling company in the world, they have this confidence in me. And it fuels me, now I have confidence in myself.

    \”Hell, they gave me the name King! It doesn\’t get any better than that. So just to feel that 180 and go out there and perform with a certain level of grit and attitude. You know, I\’m going to prove everyone one wrong, everyone who didn\’t believe in me, It\’s a dream come true.\”

    While King feels he is thriving now that he\’s part of WWE NXT, the second-generation wrestler wanted to make it clear he doesn\’t resent AEW or his time with the company. 

    \”There\’s no ill-will [towards AEW] but it\’s just sort of that mindset. I put myself in that mindset. Nobody else put me in that. I just put myself in that mindset of \’What\’s going on here?\’ That self-doubt. And I kept griding. Like I said I moved back home. I kept grinding, going to the local [wrestling] school. Trying to find out what makes me tick as a performer. And just the experience living there, the experience I gained traveling with AEW made me the performer I am today.\”

    King has been embroiled in the storyline surrounding Trick Williams\’ mystery attacker from months ago. The former AEW star has implicated Trick\’s longtime ally Carmelo Hayes as the culprit.

    Lexis King recently had a unique request for his fans… 

    For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.

  • Becky Lynch is Coming for Rhea Ripley, the Women\’s World Title & WrestleMania 40

    Becky Lynch plans on making history at the upcoming Royal Rumble PLE and has her sights set on a WrestleMania showdown with Rhea Ripley. 

    On this week\’s Raw, Rhea Ripley spoke about the upcoming Women\’s Royal Rumble match. Ripley said that whichever woman wins the match shouldn\’t waste their opportunity by challenging her for the Women\’s World Championship at WrestleMania 40. 

    This brought out Lynch, who was declared for the Women\’s Rumble match during the WWE 2024 Preview Special earlier this month. Lynch vowed to make history by becoming the first two-time winner of the Women\’s Royal Rumble match. Lynch also made it clear that if when she wins, she\’ll challenge Ripley at WrestleMania 40. Ripley seemed amused by the idea and said she\’s rooting for Lynch to win. 

    Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley

    Arguably WWE\’s two most popular women on the roster at this time, Lynch and Ripley have shared the ring as adversaries on five occasions. Their first match was on the November 20, 2019, edition of WWE NXT and ended in a no-contest. The most recent match between the two was at WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2022. In the titular structure, Lynch, alongside Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Mia Yim, and Bianca Belair, defeated Ripley, Nikki Cross, Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY. 

    This week\’s Raw isn\’t the first time Lynch has made it clear she wants Ripley. Last month, The Man said that she was sick and tired of the Australian\’s lengthy title run. 

    WWE Royal Rumble 2024

    Here is the card as it stands for the 2024 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event

    • 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, Nia Jax, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair)
    • 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)

    Don\’t expect to see Becky Lynch in any other wrestling promotion… 

  • Powerhouse Hobbs on Tony Khan\’s Tweets: \”It\’s His Company, He Believes in Us\”

    Tony Khan may cut loose on Twitter from time to time, but Powerhouse Hobbs believes it only demonstrates his boss\’ dedication to AEW. 

    In the days leading up to this week\’s Raw, Khan fired off a series of tweets, outraged at the booking of Jinder Mahal in a World Heavyweight Championship match. Khan\’s comments would be mocked by fans online, with some pointing out AEW talent who have been thrust into title matches after lengthy breaks from programming. 

    Powerhouse Hobbs Reacts

    Khan has never shied away from letting his views known on social media, which hasn\’t gone unnoticed by the AEW roster. In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, Powerhouse Hobbs shared his two cents on Khan\’s online activity.

    \”It\’s his company. He believes in us, and you know, if you believe in something, speak your mind. If you\’re 100% sure on it, speak your mind. If you\’re 99% sure on it, don\’t speak on it. He\’s 100% sure and he\’s speaking his mind. He believes in his company and he believes in us.\”

    Tony Khan on Social Media

    Khan\’s outburst about Jinder Mahal is hardly the first time the AEW President has run his mouth on social media. Ahead of the Tuesday Night War of October 2023, Khan made a series of disparaging remarks about WWE\’s gold brand. Khan labeled Triple H and Shawn Michaels \”bald a**holes\” which made it all the more embarrassing when NXT decisively beat Dynamite in the ratings. While NXT soared to its third-highest viewership of all time, Dynamite hit its lowest viewership in close to two years.

    Khan has claimed that an anti-AEW \’army\’ of bots bash the product on social media. In 2022, Khan suggested that only WWE would pay for such a wildly-expensive army of bots, but gave no hard evidence of this being the case at the time.  

  • CM Punk Reacts to GUNTHER\’s Rumble Declaration with Infamous AEW Star\’s Tweet

    CM Punk had quite the reaction to GUNTHER\’s declaration on this week\’s Raw, in a post that poked fun at a current AEW star. 

    On this week\’s episode of Monday Night Raw, GUNTHER returned from a brief hiatus and declared that he will be in the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match. The Austrian is already being considered a favorite after his impressive outing last year, which saw him be the final man eliminated. GUNTHER broke the record for time in a 30-person Rumble match and was praised by Triple H for his efforts. 

    CM Punk Responds

    With GUNTHER\’s impressive run on the main roster, CM Punk is keeping an eye on the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion. On Instagram, Punk reacted to GUNTHER\’s declaration, saying if what he\’s heard is real, it\’s going to be a tough time for the 28 other Superstars in the match other than himself and GUNTHER. 

    Punk\’s comment is a nod to the infamous tweet by Keith Lee that he sent in early 2022 about the Austrian. Following reports that WWE would be changing the name of WALTER to GUNTHER, Lee had the following to say. 

    The tweet has become a meme among fans given GUNTHER\’s exceptional tenure on the main roster. In contrast, many have felt that Lee\’s tenure with AEW has been far from groundbreaking, with many believing he is being wasted in the promotion. 

    The 2024 Royal Rumble Matches: Who\’s In? 

    GUNTHER and Punk are just two names confirmed for the Men\’s Royal Rumble match. The pair are joined by Bobby Lashley, who like Punk and GUNTHER is yet to win a Rumble match. Former winners Cody Rhodes (2023), Drew McIntyre (2020), and Shinsuke Nakamura (2018) have also been confirmed for the match. 

    On the women\’s side of things, Bayley and Nia Jax are hoping to win their first Royal Rumble matches. Bianca Belair, the winner of the 2021 Rumble, and Becky Lynch, who stood tall in 2019, hope to make history by becoming the first two-time Women\’s Royal Rumble match winner.

    Could WWE be on course to a highly-physical match at WrestleMania 40… 

  • Why Did WWE Change the Stage for This Week\’s Monday Night Raw?

    This week\’s Raw looked far different than what fans are used to seeing, but the decision to change the stage wasn\’t entirely the company\’s call. 

    The January 15, 2024, edition of Monday Night Raw saw the red brand continue toward the Royal Rumble PLE on January 27. The show saw the return of GUNTHER and Xavier Woods, while Becky Lynch vowed to win the Women\’s Royal Rumble match and face Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 40. 

    In the main event of the show, Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jinder Mahal. There had been a lot of buzz going into the match, thanks in part to Tony Khan\’s outburst on social media about the booking of Mahal. While Rollins retained the title, the Architect was seemingly hurt during the match and had to be assisted backstage. 

    Reason for Raw\’s Staging Change

    This week\’s Raw saw the use of a new stage which was far different from what the WWE Universe is used to seeing. While some suspected that this was merely a cosmetic change, the move was one made of necessity. The Wrestling Classic reports that WWE had to ground rig everything for Raw, as there was a risk that attaching the usual stage to the ceiling would prove to be too much pressure. 

    The show took place at the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, which has been hit hard by recent weather. There was a concern that the traditional stage hung from the ceiling, in addition to the heavy snow on the roof of the venue, would have made the venue unsafe for fans. 

  • Paul Walter Hauser references Matt Cardona, Get The Tables, nWo & More in Emmys Acceptance Speech

    Matt Cardona has been making his name ever since his release from WWE, and now the \’Indy God\’ had his name mentioned during the Emmy Awards. 

    The 75th annual Emmy Awards took place this week from the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles, California. The awards covered programming from June 2022 to May 2023, with nominations announced in July of 2023.

    Paul Walter Hauser took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Larry Hall in Apple TV+\’s Black Bird. 

    Hauser\’s acceptance speech included several name-drops and references from the world of pro wrestling, including Matt Cardona and \’get the tables!\’

    Paul Walter Hauser brings pro wrestling to the Emmy\’s

    If Hauser\’s name sounds familiar, it\’s because had a match for Pro Wrestling REVOLVER last November. 

    During his acceptance speech, Hauser name-dropped Matt Cardona, saying he\’s going to beat the \’Indy God\’ at the upcoming Ready or Not event on March 16. 

    It wasn\’t just Matt Cardona that Hauser referenced during his rap-based acceptance speech. The actor also gave a shoutout to Kota Ibushi and referred to the \’Wolfpac\’, a nod to the NWO off-shoot faction.

    WWE Hall of Famer \’Diamond\’ Dallas Page was among the lengthy list of people that Hauser wished to thank. Hauser ended his speech with a \”get the tables\”, a nod to the legendary tag team the Dudley Boyz. 

    Paul Walter Hauser won his Emmy award in a category that also included Murray Bartlett (Welcome to Chippendales, Nick De Noia), Richard Jenkins (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Lionel Dahmer), Joseph Lee (Beef, George Nakai), Ray Liotta (Black Burd, James \’Big Jim\’ Keener), Young Mazino (Beef, Paul Cho), and Jesse Plemons (Love and Death, Allan Gore).

  • Seth Rollins Potentially Injured on Raw: Helped to the Back After World Hvt. Title Match

    Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins may have left Raw as the World Heavyweight Champion, but the Visionary was left worse for wear by the end of the show. 

    In the main event, Rollins retained the World Heavyweight Championship against Jinder Mahal in a hard-fought match for both men. The bout had one of the biggest \’big fight feels\’ fans have seen in some time, thanks in part to Tony Khan\’s recent outburst. 

    The match saw plenty of creative add-ons that made a title change look possible, with Indus Sher providing backup for Mahal. Mr. Money in the Bank Damian Priest would also make his presence felt at ringside but was neutralized by Drew McIntyre. 

    Amid all that was happening, Rollins was able to put Mahal away with a stomp, keeping his impressive World Heavyweight Championship reign alive. Rollins was seen favoring his knee during the match, which wasn\’t just for the storyline.

    Multiple  sources backstage at Raw informed PWTorch that Rollins was helped in the back and eventually put weight on it, Rollins was said to be walking on his own but with a \”definite limp.\”

    The champion will be further evaluated to determine the severity of the injury. The reigning World Heavyweight Champion looked notably worried as Raw ended and stood on one leg when presented with his title by the referee. 

    When Did Rollins Get Hurt? 

    It\’s unclear when exactly the injury happened, but Rollins began favoring his leg after a dive to ringside. Further damage may have been done by Rollins using the Pedigree and the Stomp during the match. 

    WWE has not commented publicly on his situation at this time, but we\’ll provide an update when more details became available.

  • Bret Hart Wants Grandchild to Wrestle, TNA Hard to Kill Proposal, MJF\’s Rumble Odds

    Bret Hart\’s Question for his Grandchild

    Bret Hart is unquestionably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and the Hitman has high-expectations for his new grandchild. In a wholesome video shared online, Hart can be seen holding his new grandchild and asking how their \’tie-ups\’ are. 

    TNA Hard to Kill Proposal

    TNA Hard to Kill was a historic night for the promotion, with Nic Nemeth debuting in the closing moments of the show to confront Moose. Ash By Elegance also made her debut during the show. Before Hard to Kill went on the air though, one member of the ring crew won big when he popped the question to his partner, who was thrilled to say yes. 

    https://twitter.com/JoelPearl/status/1746682871929246018

    MJF in the Royal Rumble? 

    For some time, MJF teased that he would be leaving AEW when his contract expired on January 1, 2024, and that he\’d be joining WWE, Despite reports that MJF signed a new deal with AEW last year, Bet Online have listed MJF as a potential winner of the Royal Rumble, giving him +1000 odds. The current favorite to win the match (according to Bet Online) is CM Punk with +150 odds, followed by GUNTHER (+300) and Cody Rhodes (+400)

    Ash By Elegance\’s Sponsorship

    Ash By Elegance (fka Dana Brooke) made her TNA debut at the recent Hard to Kill event. On Instagram, the elegant wrestler shared that she has partnered up with Draft Kings for UFC 297 and urged fans to use a special promo code to get bonus bets for the Draft Kings app. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C2H-bT0LFwk