SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • McKenzie Mitchell Still Supports WWE & NXT After \”Blessing\” Of Being Released

    McKenzie Mitchell may no longer be employed with WWE, but the former interviewer is excited to see what\’s next in her life. 

    Mitchell was released from WWE last month, with her release coming as something of a surprise to fans. Rather than being among a crop of on-screen talent cuts, Mitchell was cut alongside several employees from WWE\’s corporate offices to be cut. 

    Why Mitchell\’s Release Was a Blessing

    McKenzie Mitchell joined WWE in 2019 and had worked for IMPACT Wrestling before joining. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Mitchell shared her take that her exit from WWE isn\’t an end, but rather the beginning of something new. 

    \”I think that once the dust has settled, it\’s been really, it\’s a blessing. I think that there\’s so many new beginnings and I\’m excited to see what\’s to come in the future. The outreach and the support that I\’ve gotten from friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, production staff, executives in WWE, and the fans most importantly, has just been insane. 

    \”That\’s what made me emotional when I got released. Being able to hear from everyone how much I impacted their opinion when watching WWE and when watching NXT. That\’s what made me emotional was hearing from all of the people. Their favorite moments from my career. Their favorite interviews that I\’ve done and the magic that was made on screen. That made such a big impact on me, to see what I made on them.\”

    When asked about how she\’s processing her release, Mitchell spoke about how she\’s been working hard on her non-WWE ventures and spoke about her husband Vic Joseph. 

    \”I think this is a way to say there\’s a new beginning in everything and just [be like] okay, what\’s next? I have my jewelry business so I\’ve been putting all my effort into that and my creativity there. It\’s almost my full-time. My husband [Vic Joseph] still works with the company obviously. So that\’s really interesting that he\’s still there and I\’m not. I don\’t know if people know that we were the first couple on the announce team. Genuinely, an announcer and an announcer that are married. So we really figured it out there.\”

    Mitchell also made it clear that despite her abrupt release, she still supports WWE and is always pleased to see her husband succeed in the promotion.

    \”I\’m still so supportive of WWE and NXT and I still watch him and I still text him good luck before every show. I\’ve still, obviously, all my friends are still there. So I\’m still supportive regardless [of my release from the company.]

    Mitchell was recently announced for WrestleCon weekend in early April. The convention will take in Philadelphia during WrestleMania 40 weekend. 

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

  • Watch: The Rock Recreates Iconic 90s Look & Sings in Christmas Video

    Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson has been celebrating this festive season by delivering a throwback to his iconic fanny-pack look from the 90s. 

    The image of a young Johnson, wearing the fanny pack, turtle neck, and gold chain, has been a meme for some time now, with fans loving how quintessentially 90s the ensemble is. 

    This week, Johnson recreated his 90s look to celebrate Christmas. In a video shared to Instagram, the Brahma Bull shared his rendition of \’Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.\’ Johnson\’s version refers to his 90s look and encourages fans to \”take a look at my amazing clothes.\” Johnson ends his performance with a pat of his fanny pack. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1TT5lSLvkv

    Reactions to The Rock\’s Video

    The Rock\’s Instagram video scored close to 2 million likes in the first four hours after it was published. In the comments, WWE Superstar and fellow third-generation Superstar Natalya described the video as \”Epic!\” Kevin Hart, who Johnson often collaborates with, shared a wall of crying with laughter emojis. 

    Is a Return in the Works? 

    Following The Rock\’s surprise return in September, rumors once again circulated that a return to the ring could be happening. During a recent appearance for Make-A-Wish, the Brahma Bull told a young fan \”a little secret that may or may not involve some dude returning to WWE.\” It was reported recently that WWE is eager to get The Rock to appear at WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth. The promotion\’s first event in Australia since 2018 will take place in February of next year and will be WWE\’s final main roster PLE before WrestleMania 40 in April. 

  • Cody Rhodes Went the Extra Mile to Make a Young Fan\’s Christmas Even Better

    WWE Raw Superstar Cody Rhodes was in an especially generous mood as one very lucky young fan found out on Christmas Day. 

    On Twitter, a fan named Kenny shared that they had sold a figure of the American Nightmare to another fan, who was buying the toy as a gift for their seven-year-old child. Kenny asked if Rhodes could send a signed photo to make the child\’s Christmas extra special. 

    In an update, Kenny shared that Cody went the extra mile to make the seven-year-olds Christmas extra special. We don\’t know if Cody sent a signed photo, but he sent the kid named Carson a signed Cody Rhodes authentic weight belt. The father would tell Kenny that he had made Carson\’s day. 

    Cody\’s Generosity Knows No Bounds

    This is hardly the first time that the American Nightmare has shown his generous side. At WWE live events, Cody has been competing in Extreme Rules matches and has been gifting pieces of a broken table to those in the crowd. After last week\’s Raw, Rhodes went even further and gifted a Christmas Tree to a fan. 

    What\’s Next for Cody Rhodes? 

    Cody will compete in next month\’s Men\’s Royal Rumble match, the same bout he won in January of this year. If he wins, Rhodes will become the fourth man to win back-to-back Rumbles (the others being Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, and \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin. Win or lose, many have predicted that Rhodes will face Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. 

  • ICW Founder Mark Dallas Confirms He Has Left Promotion

    Mark Dallas, the founder of Insane Championship Wrestling, has confirmed that he\’s not only left the company but has left wrestling altogether. 

    ICW was founded by Dallas in Scotland in 2006 but has since reached international appeal. With its mixture of sports entertainment and hardcore wrestling, only those 18 and older are allowed to attend shows. In 2020, WWE announced that ICW content would be available on the WWE Network. 

    Mark Dallas Leaves Wrestling

    Dallas has overseen ICW\’s operations through highs and lows, but he is no longer working with the company. On Instagram, Dallas explained why he stepped away from wrestling recently. 

    6 months ago I decided to leave pro wrestling to look after a family member who had a major operation and to pursue other avenues of entertainment that I never had time to explore whilst involved in wrestling full time.

    When ICWs 6 year long WWE deal ran out I endeavoured to make sure the company found a new streaming deal and sponsor before calling it a day to ensure it would continue on.

    I then left Scott Reid in charge knowing he was the right man to lead the charge for ICWs future.

    I started the company to be an artistic release from my lifeguard job, wanting to run four shows a year in the Maryhill Community Central Halls back in 2006. What followed was a snowball effect that led to me and a group of friends achieving our wildest dreams and then some.

    The memories will always hold a special place in my heart and I look forward to what ICW does next, rejuvenated with Scott at the helm.

    I still own the ICW brand so I will always in some way be attached to the company but I also look forward to what’s next in my life.

    I’m closing I want to say LONG LIVE IC FUCKIN’ W!

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C1S4xsiNp5h

    Insane Championship Wrestling has a long list of notable alumni. In 2006, Drew Galloway, today known as Drew McIntyre, became the first ICW World Heavyweight Champion, a title he would hold on two occasions for a total of 658 days. Other names who have worked with ICW include Grado, Joe Coffey, Trent Seven, Noam Dar, Alba Fyre, Kurt Angle, Ricochet, Finn Balor, Pete Dunne, Rey Mysterio, Rob Van Dam, and James Storm. 

  • Zilla Fatu Set to Make GCW Debut at 1/26 \’Look at Me\’ Event

    Zilla Fatu is ready to take Game Changer Wrestling by storm when he makes his debut for the promotion at their upcoming January event. 

    Fatu is the son of the late Umaga, who is best remembered for his WWE run from 2006 to 2009 that saw him become a two-time Intercontinental Champion. Zilla began training to be a wrestler in late 2022 and had been training at Booker T\’s Reality of Wrestling training school. In September, Fatu shared that he\’d left the ROW promotion, and later explained that there were \’irreconcilable\’ differences that meant he had to leave. 

    Zilla Fatu in GCW

    With a handful of matches to his name, Zilla Fatu is now ready to make his presence felt in Game Changer Wrestling. On Twitter this week, GCW announced that Fatu will be a part of the Look at Me event in Tampa on January 26. Other names promoted for the show include Andrade El Idolo, Nick Gage, Blake Christian, and Maki Itoh. AJ Francis and Mansoor, who were both released from WWE in September of this year, will also work the event.

    A Potential WWE Run? 

    With Zilla being part of the famed Anoa\’i Family of wrestlers, there has been speculation as to whether he could one day join his relations in WWE. After a successful in-ring debut in July of this year, Zilla was asked about possibly joining The Bloodline. Fatu had a different idea in mind for his WWE arrival and said he plans to \’own\’ WWE and the Superstars currently there. 

  • Ricochet Reacts After WWE Higher Up Nixes Special Entrance from Samantha Irvin

    WWE Superstar Ricochet believes that people should stop and think before leaping to assumptions after Samantha Irvin changed one of her entrance announcements. 

    Irvin, who is Ricochet\’s fiancee, joined WWE a few years ago and has impressed as an announcer. At this year\’s WrestleMania 39, Irvin announced Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes for their Undisputed WWE Universal Championship main event on Night Two. After previously announcing for WWE NXT, 205 Live, and SmackDown, Irvin was moved to Raw during this year\’s WWE Draft. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0RqArr-9Y0

    Ricochet Reacts to Reports

    Part of what has made Irvin a favorite among fans is her unique approach to announcing certain Superstars. On the latest episode of Raw, however, Irvin gave a much more tamed-down announcement of Chelsea Green compared to what fans have heard from her. A WWE higher-up made the call for Irvin\’s bubbly announcement of Green to be nixed and while some have pushed for its return, that hasn\’t happened yet. 

    Taking to Twitter, Ricochet said that fans should \”let things play out\” and added that people should \”stop making assumptions.\” The former Intercontinental Champion added that \”we all just want the best for everyone.\”

    If Samantha Irvin is allowed to bring her inflection for Green\’s entrance back, it won\’t be on tonight\’s episode of Monday Night Raw. Instead, tonight\’s show will be a best-of-2023 compilation featuring some of the most exciting matches from Raw over the past 12 months. 

    Samantha Irvin dreamed of being compared to Lillian Garcia, now it happens every day. Click here to find out more. 

  • Seth Rollins Sets Unique 2023 Record No Other WWE Superstar Can Match

    2023 has been an incredible year for Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins, who will end this year with a record no other Superstar can match. 

    Rollins is the reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion, a title he won at WWE Night of Champions in May. The title was introduced due to Roman Reigns\’s lax schedule and stranglehold over the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Rollins defeated AJ Styles in the finals of a 12-man tournament to win the gold. 

    Seth Rollins\’ Unique Record

    This year will go down as one of the best in Rollins\’ wrestling career and he is ending 2023 with a very unique record. The reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion is the only WWE Superstar to have competed at every WWE Premium Live Event this year. Rollins\’ impressive 12 months is as follows:

    • WWE Royal Rumble: Competed in the Men\’s Royal Rumble Match
    • WWE Elimination Chamber: Competed in the Men\’s Elimination Chamber Match. 
    • WrestleMania 39: Defeated Logan Paul
    • WWE Backlash: Defeated Omos
    • WWE Night of Champions: Defeated AJ Styles to win the World Heavyweight Championship
    • WWE Money in the Bank: Defeated Finn Balor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
    • WWE SummerSlam: Defeated Finn Balor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
    • WWE Payback: Defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
    • WWE Fastlane: Defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (Last Man Standing Match)
    • WWE Crown Jewel: Defeated Drew McIntyre to retain the World Heavyweight Championship
    • WWE Survivor Series: WarGames: Competed in the Men\’s WarGames Match and won

    Rollins\’ next match will see him defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Drew McIntyre on the \’Day 1\’ edition of Raw. Should he retain against the Scottish Warrior, Rollins will likely defend at the 2024 Royal Rumble on January 27. 

  • Bret Hart Names Unlikely Match As His Best WrestleMania Payday

    Bret Hart may have had some iconic matches at WrestleMania, but it is an unlikely bout from the Showcase of the Immortals that scored him his best paycheck.

    The Hitman\’s name is synonymous with WWE\’s biggest event of the year. Notable matches for Hart include his WrestleMania 12 Iron Man match against Shawn Michaels which saw the Showstopper capture his first WWF Championship. 

    The following year, Hart would win the critically acclaimed I-Quit match with \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin that would help propel the Rattlesnake to superstardom. In 2010, Hart would compete at WrestleMania for the final time, defeating Mr. McMahon in a No Holds Barred match in Bret\’s first WWE match in over a decade.  

    Bret\’s Best WrestleMania Payday

    Bret Hart may have had some all-time classics at WrestleMania, but none of the matches listed above earned him the best pay. Sitting down with Inside the Ropes, Hart revealed that it was his WrestleMania 11 I-Quit match with Bob Backlund that earned him the most bank. 

    \”For all my WrestleMania matches, I think WrestleMania 13 was one of my worst payoffs. They paid me not very well, nothing special. Funny enough the Ironman match where I wrestled Shawn, the hour match was also one of my worst payoffs I ever got in wrestling, compared to my biggest payoff which was Bob Backlund at WrestleMania 11. Go figure that.\”

    The match saw Bret defeat Backlund who rather than screaming I-Quit, instead screamed into the mic held by guest referee Roddy Piper, which was taken as his quitting. The match was the arguable highlight of WrestleMania 11, which is often heralded as one of the worst WrestleManias of all time. 

    CM Punk made a subtle Bret Hart reference during his first Raw promo following his return to WWE. Click here to find out more. 

  • Chris Jericho: I\’m Not Bound by AEW Brawl NDA, Punk\’s Lawyer is A Mark Who Should Shut Up

    Chris Jericho could be prepared to spill the beans regarding what happened backstage at AEW All Out 2022, provided he is allowed. 

    At the September 2022 pay-per-view, CM Punk captured his second AEW World Championship, besting Jon Moxley in the show\’s main event. After the show, Punk would shoot on several members of the AEW roster. Backstage, Punk, Ace Steel, The Elite, and others would participate in a backstage fight that resulted in all parties being suspended.

    Chris Jericho and the NDA

    This week, it was reported that all those involved in the backstage fight at All Out 2022 were dealing with a non-disclosure agreement. The only exception, according to these reports, is Lucy Guy, the wife of Ace Steel, who was present at the backstage altercation. On Twitter, Chris Jericho claimed that he is not bound by an NDA, implying that he could soon speak about the backstage fight. 

    This comment caught the attention of Steve New, the legal representative of both Ace Steel and CM Punk. New claimed that Jericho will have some sort of NDA in his employee handbook unless he has a very special agreement with AEW. New also offered to comb over Jericho\’s contract. 

    Jericho didn\’t take too kindly to New\’s comments. In a fiery response, Jericho claimed New was trying to be a bully and added that New \”should shut your mark ass up.\”

    Chris Jericho & the Brawl

    Chris Jericho was one of the most vocal critics of CM Punk following what transpired last year in Chicago. Jericho called CM Punk a \”cancer\” following All Out, a comment that would be echoed by WWE\’s Seth Rollins months later. Jericho would reportedly be part of a team that tried to prevent Punk\’s return but the Chicago-Made wrestler was brought back in June of this year. After Punk\’s firing from AEW in September, Jericho called Punk\’s departure regrettable. 

  • UFC\’s Dana White Giving Away Tickets for WWE WrestleMania 40

    Dana White is feeling in a generous mood and is giving away tickets for the biggest WWE show of 2024: WrestleMania 40.

    White is the President of UFC, which alongside WWE, makes up TKO Group Holdings. TKO was launched in September of this year and operates under the Endeavor banner. It was back in April that Endeavor announced that they would be acquiring WWE for the sum of $9.3 billion. Endeavor acquired UFC back in 2016. 

    Dana White & WrestleMania

    With WWE & UFC now both under the TKO Group umbrella, there has been speculation of a potential crossover between the two companies. While we\’re yet to see talent from either promotion appear for the other, Dana White is now giving away tickets for next April\’s WrestleMania 40. On Twitter, White shared that he would be giving away two tickets to the two-night event, as part of his 12 days of giveaways. The video was also shared by WWE\’s own Twitter account. 

    WWE WrestleMania 40

    WWE WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, marking the fifth two-night WrestleMania; a format that debuted during the Covid-19 pandemic. This will be the second WrestleMania to be hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, following on from WrestleMania 15 in 1999.

    WWE has confirmed zero matches for WrestleMania 40 at this point. With that said, many have predicted that the show\’s second night will be headlined by Cody Rhodes facing Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a rematch from their encounter at this year\’s WrestleMania. WWE has reportedly been considering Jimmy Uso Vs. Jey Uso for WrestleMania 40, but suspect the wait may be too long and fans could lose interest in their storyline. 

    Could \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin compete at WrestleMania 40? Never say never. Click here to find out more. 

  • Cassie Lee & Shawn Spears Expecting Their Second Child in 2024

    Pro Wrestling couple Cassie Lee and Shawn Spears have announced that they are set to become parents for the second time. 

    Taking to Instagram, the couple revealed that they are expecting a baby boy in 2024. Lee delivered the couple\’s first child, Austin Jay Arneill, in January of this year. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C1QOm_7PmLk

    Lee isn\’t the only IIconic wrestler to enjoy being a parent. Last week, her tag-team partner Jessica McKay gave birth to her first child, named Cooper. 

    Shawn Spears & Cassie Lee in the Ring

    Spears currently competes for AEW, where he has been working since 2019. The former Tye Dillinger instantly made an impact with a feud with Cody Rhodes which would see Spears deliver an unprotected chair shot to  Rhodes\’ head. In 2010, Spears was part of the MJF-led faction \’The Pinnacle\’. The faction would defeat the Inner Circle in a Blood and Guts match at Blood and Guts before losing in a Stadium Stampede match at Double or Nothing.

    Cassie Lee is a former WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champion and IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Champion and is one of four women to have held both titles. In April 2022, Lee, alongside McKay requested their immediate release from IMPACT which was granted. The pair gave a statement sharing their intention to step away from wrestling. Lee wouldn\’t wrestle until October of this year and would compete for a tour in her native Australia. 

    What do Cassie Lee & Jessica McKay make to wrestling, motherhood, and more? Click here to check out their exclusive comments to SE Scoops. 

  • J-Pop Star Takechi Kaisei to Make Wrestling In-Ring Debut in February

    Takechi Kaisei may have proven to be quite the performer in the world of J-Pop, but now the 25-year-old is preparing for a role in the ring. 

    Kaisei will make his wrestling debut next year at an event for DDT Pro-Wrestling. The show will take place on February 25, from the iconic Korakuen Hall in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. This won\’t be Kaisei\’s first time appearing in the world of professional wrestling though. During a 24-hour live show, he appeared and did a ‘match’ with DDT’s Tetsuya Endo and Makoto Oishi. It was after that appearance that Kaisei considered doing more in the ring. 

    Tickets for the show where Kaisei will make his in-ring debut will go on sale today. 

    Who is Takechi Kaisei?

    Takechi Kaisei is of the J-Pop group, THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE. The group has a total of sixteen members and has been active since 2014. The members of the band were decided via a competition called Vocal Battle Audition 4, Exile Performer Battle Audition and Global Japan Challenge. The group has five albums, with the most recent \’Round and Round\’ released in February of this year. The group has won six awards, with the first being for Best New Artist Video (for Lightning) in 2017 and the most recent being for Best Artist at the Asia Artist Awards in 2022. 

    DDT Pro-Wrestling

    DDT Pro was founded in 1997 as \’Dramatic Dynamite Time\’ before changing to its current name in 2004. Events are often a mixture of Japanese lucharesu (a mix of lucha libre and traditional puroresu), worked shoot-style matches, hardcore brawling and comedy matches. In January 2020, DDT\’s parent company CyberAgent purchased Pro Wrestling Noah, with DDT\’s executives taking over Noah\’s operations

  • See How Your Favorite Wrestling Stars Spent Christmas

    The entire team here at SEScoops would like to wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, another holiday, or don’t celebrate at all, it’s a great time of year to spread cheer and spend time with loved ones.

    Thanks to social media, we get a chance to see how our favorite wrestling personalities spent Christmas and the festivities leading up to December 25.

    Presents, trees, ugly sweaters and of course some Die Hard, here’s a look at how everybody celebrated. 

    Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio

    Dirty Dom hopped on Mami’s lap to snap this photo that belongs in a frame:

    The Judgment Day

    Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, Damian Priest and JD McDonough exchanged presents Secret Santa style:

    Finn Balor also blessed us with this:

    Mercedes Moné

    The former WWE Superstar known as Sasha Banks dropped this festive photo, including a caption that includes three words starting with H on their own line, which many fans are taking as a reference playful message to Tru

    Cody Rhodes

    Cody Rhodes and his ‘Nightmare Family’ received a visit from a well-traveled VIP:

    Dax Harwood

    AEW star Dax Harwood of FTR is full of gratitude and surrounded by loved ones: 

    Stacy Keibler

    WWE Hall of Famer Stacy Keibler spent time with her family:

    Rhea Ripley and Buddy Matthews

    WWE star Rhea Ripley and AEW’s Buddy Matthews got hooked up with this incredible custom arcade cabinet:

    Kairi Sane & Bayley

    Damage CTRL

    Kurt Angle

    Olympic gold medalist and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle spent some quality time with jolly old St. Nick:

    Johnny Gargano

    With this being the season of generosity, Johnny Gargano was in a giving mood when he visited a Wal-Mart in Avon, Ohio. The former NXT Champion purchased and signed a Mattel figure of himself, which he left for a lucky fan to collect. 

    Tiffany Stratton

    Nikki Cross & the women of WWE Raw:

    Nikki Cross ensured her love for the 1988 classic Die Hard, which the former Raw Women\’s Champion insists is a Christmas movie. 

    She also shared a photo of an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party that was held backstage at Monday’s Raw:

    Batista and Mr. Beast

    WWE legend turned Hollywood heavyweight Dave Bautista teamed up with influencer Mr. Beast to help out 100 dogs in need 

    https://twitter.com/davebautista/status/1738611008082419971

    Drew McIntyre

    Drew McIntyre may have become a heel on WWE TV, though he doesn\’t see it this way, but the Scottish Warrior recently made some wishes come true at Make-A-Wish\’s Winter Wonderland. 

    Hacksaw Jim Duggan

    WWE Hall of Famer \’Hacksaw\’ Jim Duggan has shared the ring with some of wrestling\’s toughest names, but his toughest challenge is doing his Christmas shopping so close to the big day. 

    Danhausen

    AEW star Danhausen dressed up like Santa Claus and .. well, ‘ruined Christmas’ as you can see below:

    BONUS: Nick Gage from Christmas 2020:

    This one is a throwback, but it’s a classic. Here’s a one of a kind rendition of ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas from Nick Gage:

    https://twitter.com/samantha_1713/status/1738952271675662756

  • WWE Speed matches to be featured on a new social media show

    Fans will be seeing the WWE Speed match feature on its own social media show if the promotion goes ahead with current plans. 

    Before the December 15, episode of SmackDown, WWE introduced the Speed Match. The match sees a five-minute time limit, meaning Superstars must work quickly to secure the win. SmackDown saw two \’Speed Matches\’ with \’Big\’ Bronson Reed facing NXT Superstar Nathan Frazer in the first. Later on, Cedric Alexander faced NXT\’s Axiom.

    Plans for the WWE Speed Match

    Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick were on commentary for the WWE Speed matches, and the matches were filmed as if they\’d be broadcast. Fightful Select was told by sources that the current plan is for the show to run on social media platforms if it is launched. 

    Many at the SmackDown taping were surprised by the match and had no idea the matches were happening until shortly before the show. So far, no new Speed matches have been filmed since the initial matches earlier this month. 

    Another Potential Change?

    WWE is introducing the Speed Match, but may have made a massive change to wrestling staple the \’Steel Cage Match\’. At WWE NXT Deadline, Roxanne Perez faced Kiana James in a cage match. 

    It was mentioned during the show that the match could be won only via pinfall or submission, removing the traditional rule of escaping the structure for victory. It\’s currently unclear if this was a one-off change for this match or if this is how Steel Cage matches will go moving forward.

  • Grayson Waller Says WWE Tickets Should Cost More When He\’s On the Card

    SmackDown Superstar Grayson Waller thinks WWE ticket prices should be far higher, especially when he\’s on the card. 

    Speaking to CW39, Waller was asked about his plans for the Holidays. The Australian admitted that he isn\’t too bothered with this year\’s festivities, but hopes to see prices for WWE tickets rise. 

    \”I haven\’t got my family here. I am not really doing Christmas this year so I wanna go out and I wanna fight. But I\’m a little upset to be honest, I was looking and it\’s 20 dollars to get a ticket. 20 dollars to see Grayson Waller. I\’m a little bit offended. I feel that\’s not much money. I think the prices need to go up. 20 dollars to see Grayson Waller, that\’s a bit of a steal. I\’m gonna have to make a call to Santa. I know some kids are gonna be asking for these tickets for Christmas.\”

    What\’s Next for Grayson Waller? 

    Waller recently competed in the U.S. Championship Contenders Tournament but was eliminated in the first round by Carmelo Hayes. Despite this, Waller is expected to have quite the 2024. In February, WWE will travel to Waller\’s native Australia for the Elimination Chamber: Perth PLE. Waller\’s tag team with Austin Theory is also expected to continue. The duo has impressed WWE officials who initially saw the pair has a short-term idea. Both Waller and Theory are expected to be \’elevated\’ ahead of WrestleMania 40. 

    Could Grayson Waller\’s 2024 see the Australian Superstar feud with CM Punk? Click here to find out more. 

  • Mercedes Mone Teasing WWE Return on Social Media

    Could Mercedes Mone be laying the groundwork for her return to WWE, close to two years after her final appearance? 

    Mone, then Sasha Banks, walked out of WWE in May of 2022, alongside her then-tag-team partner Naomi. Mone would join New Japan at Wrestle Kingdom 18 and captured the IWGP Women\’s Championship the next month. She has been out of action since May due to an injury. 

    Teasing a WWE Return? 

    While Mone hasn\’t appeared for WWE in 19 months, rumors persist that she could one day make a comeback. After all, several Superstars who were once deemed \’never\’ to make a WWE return did exactly that. This week, Mone added fuel to the speculation with her Instagram Stories. On social media, Mone shared photos of Funko POP! Vinyls, all of which are based on her Sasha Banks WWE tenure. 

    Could Mercedes Mone Return? 

    Mone left WWE on bad terms, but a lot has changed within the promotion since the May 2022 walkout. Triple H now has significantly more influence than before which may help negotiations with the former IWGP Women\’s Champion. Mone worked closely with the Game during his time as head of NXT and is said to have a good relationship with the DX/Evolution leader. 

    Contractually speaking, there are currently no obstacles that would block Mone from entering talks with WWE. Her contract with New Japan has expired and she has not signed with any other promotion yet. While Tony Khan has often shared his interest in bringing Mone in, the two sides have yet to reach a deal and it is unknown if there are any current plans to sign her. 

  • Latest On the Departure of AEW\’s VP Rafael Morffi: New Job, When He Told AEW of Exit

    More has come to light about the impending departure of Rafael Morffi, who is stepping down as AEW\’s VP of Live Events/Touring. 

    Earlier this week, it was reported that Morffi will be leaving AEW after next week\’s Worlds End pay-per-view. Morffi isn\’t the only notable name set to leave, as AEW\’s Chief Marketing & Merchandising Officer Dana Massie is set to finish up with the company very soon. 

    The Exit of Rafael Morffi

    Morffi held the position of Vice President of Live Events/Touring since the formation of AEW and had many duties to his name. He was responsible for setting up the live event tours, booking buildings, local marketing and other logistical responsibilities and other roles. 

    Morffi informed AEW during their recent Montreal events that he would be finishing up with the company, PW Insider reports. Morffi has already accepted a senior executive position with the Barclays Center in New York City (where Morfi resides with his family) and will be splitting his duties between booking sports and entertainment events at the arena as well as working for the Brooklyn Nets\’ owners. Being closer to his family and not being on the road constantly was one of the big reasons for Morffi\’s decision to leave. The gist of things is that the Barclays Center gave him such a great offer he simply couldn\’t say no. 

    Morffi is said to be well-liked within AEW and will be missed by those in the company. Morffi was the individual who brought the idea of hosting \’Grand Slam\’ events in Arthur Ashe Stadium to AEW. 

    Rafael Morffi in Wrestling

    Before joining AEW, Morffi worked with TNA Wrestling and House of Hardcore via his own \’Signature Move Productions\’ company. He also spent years working for WWE in regards to the promotion\’s live events. 

  • Watch: Bray Wyatt Has Posthumous Role in Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Christmas Cabin Fever

    Windham \’Bray Wyatt\’ Rotunda is no longer with us, but a new film from Disney has a brief cameo from the beloved wrestler. 

    Rotunda passed away in August of medical issues at the age of 36. He had been pulled from WWE programming earlier this year. His passing came less than a year after his well-received return to the promotion at Extreme Rules 2022 in October. 

    Bray Wyatt\’s Cameo Role

    Windham Rotunda is no longer with us but hasn\’t been forgotten. This month, Disney+ released their new animated movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever, which features a cameo role for the three-time WWE World Champion. He voices a prison guard who appears around 43 minutes and 30 seconds into the movie. Rotunda is mentioned under his real name in the film\’s credits. The special is available online now but you can check out Rotunda\’s brief role in the tweet below. 

    Windham Rotunda Out of the Ring

    This cameo role in Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever marks Rotunda\’s sole entertainment appearance outside of the ring. Wyatt also appeared in several WWE video games and made his WWE game debut in WWE \’12 as Husky Harris. It wouldn\’t be until WWE 2K15 that he would return to the virtual world as Bray Wyatt. 

    Before his passing, Rotunda had been working on creating a movie with horror effects legend Jason Baker. The project was announced in 2021. Even after Wyatt\’s return to WWE, Baker declared that the project was still in the works. Baker is the owner of Callosum Studios, which includes horror effects legend Tom Savini as a consultant. Callosum has helped create masks for WWE talent including Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Retribution, the Bludgeon Brothers, Carmella, Nikki A.S.H, and the Fiend, and also designed Alexa Bliss\’ Lilly doll.

  • Katsuyori Shibata is All-Elite: Japanese Star Signs with \”Wonderful\” AEW

    Fans can expect to see plenty more of Katsuyori Shibata in All Elite Wrestling now that the Japanese wrestler is officially All-Elite. 

    On Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan broke the news of Shibata\’s signing and described Shibata as one of the greatest fighters and champions ever in wrestling. Khan also shared a letter from Shibata himself in which the new signing spoke about joining the \”wonderful\” AEW. 

    Dear Tony Khan,

    Today, I have signed the contract with AEW under a permission from New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

    In the past year, I worked for AEW/ROH and I learned how wonderful the AEW is.

    This is the best environment where wrestlers can focus only on fighting in the ring.

    And the love for professional wrestling is overflowing from Tony and all the people who work for him.

    I want to make AEW’s ring the last end point of The Wrestler’s career. I dedicate my wrestler life to Tony Khan, and AEW. 

    Thank you, 

    Katsuyori Shibata. 

    Katsuyori Shibata in AEW

    Shibata first appeared for AEW at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door in June 2022, saving Orange Cassidy from a beatdown by the United Empire. Shibata would save Cassidy again later that year. In November, Shibata challenged Cassidy for the AEW All-Atlantic Championship but was unsuccessful. 

    In March of this year, Shibata made his ROH debut and defeated Wheeler Yuta at Supercard of Honor to win the ROH Pure Championship. Shibata retained the title on the June 2, 2023, edition of Rampage against Lee Moriarty. He dropped the title back to Yuta last month on AEW Rampage. 

     

  • Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns is WWE\’s 2023 Match of the Year

    Cody Rhodes may have failed to finish the story at WrestleMania 39 earlier this year, but he and Roman Reigns delivered WWE\’s best match of the year. 

    Earlier this month, WWE kicked off a fan-voted tournament to see what was the best match of the year. The tournament featured the following matches: 

    • SummerSlam: Cody Rhodes vs Brock Lesnar
    • WrestleMania 39: Rey Mysterio vs Dominik Mysterio
    • Payback: Trish Stratus vs Becky Lynch
    • WrestleMania 39: Fatal Four-Way Men\’s Tag Team Match
    • Monday Night RAW: Chad Gable vs Gunther
    • WrestleMania 39: Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair
    • Money In The Bank: The Usos vs Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns
    • WrestleMania 39: Drew McIntyre vs Gunther vs Sheamus
    • Backlash: Bad Bunny vs Damian Priest
    • NXT Deadline: Men\’s Iron Survivor Match
    • WrestleMania 39: Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes
    • Crown Jewel: Seth Rollins vs Drew McIntyre
    • Backlash: IYO Sky vs Bianca Belair
    • Elimination Chamber: Sami Zayn vs Roman Reigns
    • WrestleMania 39: The Usos vs Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens
    • NXT No Mercy: Carmelo Hayes vs Ilja Dragunov

    In the end, the finals saw two matches featuring WWE\’s American Nightmare. The finals were between Rhodes\’ WrestleMania 39 match with Reigns and his SummerSlam 2023 showdown with Brock Lesnar. 

    What\’s Next?

    Cody Rhodes is currently feuding with Shinsuke Nakamura, who has been able to mist Rhodes multiple times. Cody will compete in next month\’s Men\’s Royal Rumble match. If he wins, Cody will become the fourth man to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. Win or lose, many expect Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. WWE\’s annual Showcase of the Immortals will take place in April from Philadelphia, PA.

    Cody Rhodes is going to be staying with WWE for many years to come. Click here to find out more. 

  • Hornswoggle Thought He Was Being Pranked When WWE Called with An Offer

    Dylan \’Hornswoggle\’ Postl was very suspicious when WWE called him with an offer, especially considering how bad his audition went.

    Postl debuted on WWE\’s main roster in 2006 as a \’Leprechaun\’ that would often aid Fit Finlay. The following year, Hornswoggle would win the Cruiserweight Championship and was the final champion before the title was reintroduced in 2016.

    Hornswoggle Makes it to WWE

    Postl would become a household name thanks to his tenure with WWE, but his journey to being a Superstar wasn\’t easy. During the Oh You Didn\’t Know podcast, Postl recalled his woeful audition.

    \”WWE I always say they were looking for a person like me but now I can just say, WWE was looking for a midget. They were trying out midgets to be Finlay’s Leprechaun. It just wasn’t happening. Then Ken [Anderson] said to Fit, he goes, \’Hey I got the guy. He’s good hearted, he’s a good kid, he can take bumps,\’ All of this. They try me out in Green Bay actually.

    \”There was a Smackdown taping in Green Bay. They pulled me in to the promo room with Fit, asked me to do a Irish accent, I failed miserably. So much so that I remember, I don’t know if Fit even remembers. We walked out, I go, \’oh man how did that go,\’ He goes \’Huh, not very well.\’\”

    With his audition being a dud, Postl wasn\’t expecting to hear anything from WWE. That is why he was in no hurry to answer the call that would ultimately change his life.

    \”I didn’t expect to hear back. Two weeks later a blocked number came up on my phone three or four times in the morning, about 8- 9 in the morning and I kept sending it to the voicemail because I was like \’I’m not paying this credit card company that wants my money, not happening.\’ Then finally, there’s a voicemail, [It says] \’Dylan this is Tommy Dreamer. We want to give you a lot of money and hire you. We want to give you a contract, please call me back.\’ 

    \”And I was like \’Someone’s f***ing with me.\’ A, Because they’ll never hire me and B, Because no one talks in such a monotone voice for a whole voicemail, a whole minute and a half voicemail. No one talks in, \’Dylan call me back please, this is Tommy Dreamer.\’ No one also would introduce himself in an office position as ECW’s Tommy Dreamer. None of this shit matched up, I was like \’Someone is f***ing with me.\’ 

    \”So finally I give him a call and he goes, \’Oh you decided to call me back, that’s good. We’re gonna pull you to TV, you’re going to start as Finlay’s Leprechaun, I guess.\’ [Then] it was literally off to the races, three weeks later, I’m travelling to the Philippines.\”

    Postl would remain with WWE until 2016. He would make a one-off return in 2018 for that year\’s Greatest Royal Rumble match. He would also appear during the 2019 Royal Rumble pay-per-view. 

    Which former WWE Superstar helped Postl after his release from the company in 2016? Click here to find out. 

  • Charlotte Flair On Crutches at CMLL Event Supporting Andrade El Idolo

    WWE Superstar Charlotte Flair wasn\’t going to let her recent injury stop her from supporting her husband Andrade El Idolo at a CMLL event. 

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

    Charlotte Flair at CMLL

    While Flair won\’t be competing for the foreseeable future, she recently made the trip to CMLL. Flair was there to support Andrade, who teamed with Espanto Jr. and Brillante Jr. to take on Volador Jr., Magnus, and Magia Blanca. On Twitter, CMLL brought awareness to Flair being at the show. 

    Flair\’s arrival was also captured on camera. The former Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Women\’s Champion was seen arriving on crutches to her seats to a response from the fans in attendance. 

    What\’s Next for Charlotte Flair? 

    While Flair was injured earlier this month, she won\’t be having surgery until next month. Flair is expected to miss nine months of action. This would put Flair\’s return window at some time in October 2024. This is a massive setback for Flair, who will miss next month\’s Royal Rumble event, WrestleMania 40, and SummerSlam 2024. It had also been rumored that Flair was going to be Jade Cargill\’s first opponent in WWE and if so, those plans will have to be changed.

  • Want to See CM Punk Live? WWE Shares Best in the World\’s Next Appearances

    WWE has made sure that fans know when exactly they can expect to see CM Punk now that he is a Superstar once again. 

    It\’s been less than a month since Punk\’s shocking return to WWE in the closing moments of Survivor Series: WarGames. Since then, the former World Champion has been one of WWE\’s most featured performers and appeared on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT before exclusively signing with the red brand. 

    CM Punk\’s Upcoming Appearances 

    Fans won\’t have to wait long until CM Punk makes his long-awaited return to the ring. In his first WWE match since 2014, Punk will face Dominik Mysterio at the December 26 Live Event in Madison Square Garden. Punk will also face Mysterio at the December 30th event in Inglewood, California. 

    On social media, Punk shared a timeline of his next appearances for WWE. After these live events, CM Punk will be on the January 8, episode of Monday Night Raw from Portland, Oregon. Punk\’s next appearance will be on January 22, show from New Orleans, Louisiana. This show will be the go-home Raw before the Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, where Punk will compete in the Men\’s Royal Rumble match. 

    What\’s Next for CM Punk? 

    The former AEW World Champion is being considered a favorite to win next month\’s Men\’s Royal Rumble match. If so, Punk is expected to challenge reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins. The pair have been at odds ever since Punk\’s return and Rollins recently explained why he\’s taken issue with Punk\’s return. 

  • Sour Grapes, Orton Hugs & a Rising Phoenix: Cathy Kelley & Kevin Owens Have A New Show

    Cathy Kelley and Kevin Owens have both appeared on WWE programming countless times, and now the pair have their own show. 

    On YouTube, WWE shared the first episode of the new show, which is yet to receive a name. Naming the show was quite the talking point among the pair with Kelley rejecting Owens\’ suggestion of \’Rising Phoenix.\’ Mia Yim, who was nearby also had a less than favorable response to the name. Owens admitted that the name was one of the worst ideas he\’s had, and said he was \’inspired\’ by a wall at the arena. 

    The duo also discussed the Australian-ness of Grayson Waller and the merits of seedless grapes against their seeded equivalents. The pair also discussed the recent return of Randy Orton and while Owens did not hug the Viper, Kelley made sure to give him a warm embrace. 

    What\’s Next? 

    When not presenting this yet-to-be-named show, Owens can be found competing on WWE SmackDown. The former Universal Champion is currently in the United States Championship Contenders Tournament. Owens defeated Austin Theory in the first round of the tournament, and will face Carmelo Hayes on tonight\’s episode of SmackDown. Click here to find out the results of that match and this week\’s show that was taped last week. The winner of the tournament will earn a title shot against Logan Paul. The Maverick won the title at WWE Crown Jewel against Rey Mysterio. 

  • Brogan Finlay, Brother of NJPW\’s David Finlay, Signs With WWE

    Brogan Finlay has officially signed with WWE NXT and is set to arrive at the Performance Center in Orlando in due time. 

    News of Finlay\’s signing was broken by PW Insider. The 21-year-old wrestler attended the Performance Center for a tryout earlier this year. Other names who attended the same tryout include Madi Wrenkowski, Jazmin Allure, and Hollyhood Haley J. 

    Brogan Finlay\’s Heritage

    Finlay is a fourth-generation wrestler, with his father being the well-respected Dave \’Fit\’ Finlay. The elder Finlay joined WWE in 2001 following the demise of WCW and is a former WWE United States Champion. Brogan\’s grandfather David Sr. and great-grandfather also fought during their respective eras. 

    Brogan isn\’t the only Finlay of his generation to be active in the ring. His brother David Finlay III is signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling and is the seventh and current leader of the Bullet Club. He is also a former NEVER Openweight Champion. 

    Brogan Finlay in the Ring

    Brogan Finlay made his in-ring debut in June 2021 with a victory over Chris Dickinson at a Beyond Project Dolphin event. While he is a relative newcomer to the wrestling industry, Finlay has competed in multiple promotions. The fourth-generation wrestler has already competed for GCW, New Japan, Wrestling Revolver, Black Label Pro, and Blitzkrieg! Pro to name just a few companies. Finlay\’s most recent match took place at Game Changer Wrestling\’s Si or No? event last month. Brogan lost to Tony Deppen at the event.