SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • The Mustafa Ali World Tour Has Begun: Ex-Superstar Set for DEFY, PROGRESS, GCW & More

    Mustafa Ali is no longer bound by his non-compete clause with WWE, and the former Superstar is ready to embark on a world wrestling tour. 

    Ali was one of several Superstars released from WWE in September of this year. These cuts marked the first releases of talent following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Before his release, there were plans for Ali to win the NXT North American Championship and his exit was a surprise to NXT head Shawn Michaels. 

    The Mustafa Ali World Tour

    Earlier this week, Ali teased big plans for his free agency and the former Superstar is certainly living up to the hype. Taking to Twitter, Ali shared a political campaign-inspired video, announcing that his \’World Tour\’ has begun. 

    Following Ali\’s campaign video, announcements flooded social media about the ex-Superstar\’s future plans. Ali will be part of GCW\’s No Compadre event on January 12, where he will face Gringo Loco. 

    As the name suggests, Mustafa Ali\’s World Tour won\’t be confined to solely the United States. Ali will travel to Ottawa, Canada, on January 19, to compete for C4 Wrestling. 

    Fans wanting to see Mustafa Ali in the United Kingdom won\’t have to wait long at all. Ali will make his UK independent debut at PROGRESS Wrestling\’s Light of the Dragon event on January 28.

    Ali will also be stopping at DEFY Wrestling on his campaign trail. The Retribution leader will be part of an event with DEFY on February 9, in Seattle, Washington. 

    Just one day after his appearance for DEFY, Ali will be a part of DREAMWAVE Wrestling\’s \’Run This Town\’ event. Ali will challenge for the Dreamwave Alternative Title in a 4 Man Scramble that will include Penta El Zero Miedo, Gringo Loco, and champion El Hijo Del Vikingo. 

    Mustafa Ali will also be part of Prestige Wrestling\’s event on February 25. He will face \’Speedball\’ Mike Bailey at the event that will include Tiger Mask, Jordynne Grace, and Mascara Dorada on the card. 

  • Dani Luna Signs TNA Wrestling Contract Ahead of Relaunch, SUBCULTURE React

    IMPACT Wrestling is mere weeks away from relaunching as TNA, and Dani Luna will be along for the ride as a TNA Knockout. 

    The relaunch will be made official on January 13 with the promotion\’s Hard to Kill pay-per-view. The change was announced in the closing moments of Bound for Glory 2023 in October of this year. 

    Dani Luna Signs with TNA Wrestling

    Dani Luna has been making waves as part of IMPACT and now that will continue in the new era of TNA Wrestling. In a tweet, IMPACT/TNA confirmed that Luna has signed a new contract with the promotion. It is currently unclear what the length of her new deal is. 

    On Twitter, Luna\’s SUBCULTURE allies reacted to the news, with Mark Andrews saying he was immensely proud of her. 

    Flash Morgan Webster added that Luna is the hardest worker in any room and like Andrews is excited to see what she does next with TNA Wrestling.

    Dani Luna

    Luna made her in-ring debut for IMPACT/TNA in May of this year, and has worked with some of the company\’s top women.  Luna has shared the ring with Deonna Purrazzo and Trinity to name just a few. During the recent UK Invasion Tour, Luna worked all four nights of the tour and faced Jordynne Grace at Turning Point 2023. 

    More Signings

    News of Luna\’s new deal comes shortly after it was announced that Brian Myers has signed a new deal with the company. The promotion also recently signed KUSHIDA to a new TNA contract. During a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, IMPACT/TNA President Scott D\’Amore also teased that he was finalizing one of \”the biggest signings in TNA\” history which will shake things up in the promotion in the new year. 

    What did Luna and her SUBCULTURE allies have to say about IMPACT\’s recent return to the UK? Click here to check out their exclusive comments with SE Scoops. 

  • Satnam Singh: We Are Planning on Bringing AEW to India

    AEW has plans to take their brand of professional wrestling across the world to India, according to Satnam Singh. 

    Since launching in 2019, AEW has mostly kept itself within the United States. In October 2022, AEW hosted its first events in Canada which also saw the debut of Renee Paquette. Earlier this year, AEW traveled outside of North America for AEW All In. The UK-based show was a huge success with a second event scheduled for next year. 

    AEW\’s Coming to India

    AEW is making its name across the globe and it appears India is in the sights of Tony Khan. Speaking to the Hindustan Times, Satnam Singh was asked about his AEW career and revealed plans for the promotion to travel to India. 

    \”I have signed with AEW now, and I stay with them always. Every week we travel and we have matches also. We are planning to bring AEW to India and expose it here so that the people in this country know what it is. This is important.

    \”The youth should know that something can be done with wrestling too. Children need to find something, analyse your health and power, and see what you can do. It is not important that you need to do sports, study, become a businessman, very important.\”

    Satnam Singh on a Potential Basketball Return

    Before wrestling, Singh competed in basketball but was handed a two-year ban handed by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) after a positive test. While his ban is a thing of the past, a return to the court isn\’t in Singh\’s future. 

    \”No comeback plans. I don\’t have any plan to come back there after whatever happened to me, I am done. I am focussed in wrestling right now.\”

    Singh\’s most recent match saw himself, Jeff Jarrett, and Jay Lethal lose to The Acclaimed at AEW All Out 2023. 

  • JD McDonagh Looking to Appeal \’Loser Leaves Judgment Day\’ Defeat with NXT Lawyer

    JD McDonagh is ready to fight for his place back in the Judgment Day and has enlisted the help of a WWE NXT Superstar. 

    On this week\’s Raw, McDonagh faced R-Truth, who continues to believe that he is an official member of the faction. Ahead of their \’Miracle on 34th Street\’ Fight, it was decided that this match would see the loser be kicked out of the Judgment Day. While the faction hoped that this would be the last time they\’d have to deal with Truth, the former 24/7 Champion won the match after putting McDonagh through a table. This was an especially tough loss for McDonagh who had spent months trying to earn an official spot in the faction. 

    JD McDonagh\’s Appeal

    McDonagh may be out of the Judgment Day, but he\’s not going to be kicked out without a fight. On Twitter, NXT Superstar Luca Crisfino Esq. shared an official appeal from his legal offices. Crusifino will be representing McDonagh and tagged WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce in the tweet. 

    The litigation refers to Truth\’s hand being under McDonagh\’s shoulder when the pinfall was made. This should, according to Crusifino, should result in the pinfall being declared null and void. Pearce has seven days to respond to this litigation. 

    Crusifino joined WWE earlier this year and has showcased his lawyer character as part of the WWE NXT brand. On this week\’s episode of the gold brand, Crusifino competed in the NXT Men\’s Breakout Tournament. He would lose to Taivon Heights who advanced to the next round where he will face Oba Femi. 

  • QT Marshall Already Finished with AEW, Not Been at Events in Weeks

    The AEW tenure of QT Marshall has already come to an end, despite some time remaining on his contract with the All-Elite promotion. 

    In November, Marshall announced that he was going to resign from AEW and that his time with the company would run through the end of this year.  Marshall had worked both on-screen as part of the QTV faction in addition to working behind the scenes. Marshall had reportedly felt frustrated within AEW, and felt like he wasn\’t being used on screen effectively nor was he being positioned to be a wrestling store. Those in AEW told SEScoops that people understand his decision to move on and appreciate his contributions. 

    QT Marshall is Already Finished

    Sources within AEW have confirmed to Fightful Select that Marshall has effectively finished his time with the company already. Marshall has not been at AEW shows in weeks after giving his notice months ago. Marshall had signed a short-term extension through the end of the year. 

    What\’s Next for QT Marshall? 

    Marshall is gone from AEW, but it may not be long before we see him back in the ring. MLW has had its eye on Marshall, who they feel would be greatly beneficial to the company\’s future. Marshall would likely factor into plans for a complete overhaul of the promotion\’s \’front office.\’ 

    Marshall, alongside Cody Rhodes, recently filed a trademark for Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, the promotion founded by Dusty Rhodes. While it is unclear if the duo plans to resurrect the promotion, Marshall has been adamant that he wants to perform in-ring while he was in his prime. 

  • Nick Hogan Pleads Not Guilty, Tammy Sytch Moved to Prison After Conviction

    Nick Hogan, the son of two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, has pleaded not guilty to the recent speeding arrest. 

    At an arraignment this week, Hogan, real name Nick Bollea, pleaded not guilty to the DUI misdemeanor. There will be a pre-trial hearing on January 17, 2024. Nick was arrested on the morning of November 18 in Clearwater, Florida. He reportedly refused to enter a breathalyzer test when taken into custody. 

    Nick never followed his father by becoming a wrestler, but has appeared on TV several times. Nick was often seen on the Hogan Knows Best reality series that ran for multiple seasons on VH-1 as well as on WWE programming from time to time.

    Nick Hogan has had previous issues with the law. In August 2007, Hogan was involved in a car crash in which he crashed into a tree while driving under the influence. This crash came just 16 days after Hogan\’s fourth speeding ticket within 11 months. The passenger in the vehicle, John Graziano, suffered massive brain damage due to the crash.

    Tammy Sytch Update

    Last month, Tammy \’Sunny Sytch was sentenced to a total of 17 years in prison, plus another eight years on probation. Sytch was convicted of DUI Manslaughter for her role in the death of Julian Lasseter in early 2022. This week, Sytch was transferred from Volusia County Corrections to a prison facility in Ocala, Florida. 

    The disgraced WWE Hall of Famer is still facing a lawsuit filed by the estate of Julian Lasseter. Sytch laughed and sobbed in court as she was handed her 17-year sentence. If the time is served in full, Sytch will be 68 years old by the time she leaves prison. 

  • Judge Recommends Bizarre Lawsuit Against Vince McMahon for Dismissal

    A strange lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon and WWE is expected to be dismissed after a recommendation by a United States District Court. 

    In August, Dana Wiley filed a lawsuit against WWE over an alleged meet-up with Alexa Bliss. The suit alleges that WWE failed to reimburse a $5,500 “down payment for a meet-up arranged via email correspondence, to personally meet World Wrestling Entertainment employee Alexa Bliss” on June 30.

    The handwritten lawsuit also alleges that Vince McMahon breached an agreement with Wiley in which he would become a WWE employee. Wiley, who is currently incarcerated due to an attempted homicide, claims that McMahon had agreed to pay him $70,000 a month. 

    Recommended for Dismissal

    In a filing this month, United States Magistrate Judge Patricia L. Dodge stated that Wiley\’s lawsuit was \”incredible and improbably.\” Judge Dodge adds that the suggestion that Wiley would be paid a total of $840,000 a year is \”far-fetched at best\” especially given his incarceration. 

    The statement adds that much of the terms of Wiley\’s alleged contract with WWE are \”indecipherable.\” Judge Dodge ends by stating that the plaintiff\’s complaint should be dismissed. 

    Wiley\’s Previous Lawsuit

    This is hardly the first time Wiley has filed litigation against WWE. He has previously sued Vince McMahon, members of D-Generation X, and the NWO, claiming that he had signed a fair use contract for those groups’ trademarks which McMahon and the others did not acknowledge.

    Wiley claimed he signed the contract on the steps of a New Castle, Pennsylvania, courthouse after being sentenced “in an unrelated criminal case.” He also claimed that he signed this contract in 1995, a year before the NWO debuted in WCW and two years before Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Rick Rude & Chyna would form DX. The lawsuit was later dismissed. 

  • MVP Has Eyes on Kang the Conqueror Role After Jonathan Majors\’ Marvel Firing

    Could WWE\’s MVP be ready to take the Marvel Cinematic Universe by storm as the villainous Kang the Conqueror? The former champion is open to the idea. 

    This week, Marvel fired actor Jonathan Majors, who had portrayed Kang in Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania and was set to reprise the role in future projects. Kang, a time traveler with many \’variants\’ bent on conquering all universes, was set to be the next big villain of the MCU following the destruction of Thanos in 2019\’s Avengers: Endgame. 

    Majors was fired after being found guilty of assaulting his girlfriend and Marvel has cut ties with him. With the future of Kang uncertain, fans have been left wondering who will step into the significant role should Marvel continue with its plans. On Twitter, MVP made it clear he\’s open to the role. 

    https://twitter.com/The305MVP/status/1737518773437972978

    WWE & Marvel

    While MVP is unlikely to be picked for the role, the worlds of WWE and Marvel have collided in the past. Batista\’s role as Drax the Destroyer helped propel his profile in Hollywood though the Animal has said he hopes to portray DC Comics villain Bane one day. 

    Seth Rollins will portray a villainous role in Captain America: Brave New World, which is set for a 2025 release. Becky Lynch filmed a post-credits scene for 2020\’s Eternals but the scene was reportedly cut for being too depressing. 

    MVP Outside of the Ring

    While MVP is best known for his time in the ring, the former WWE U.S. Champion does have an acting credit to his name. MVP played Vernon Freedom in 2010\’s MacGruber, a comedy starring Will Forte and Kristen Wiig which also featured Chris Jericho, The Great Khali, Big Show, Mark Henry, and Kane. 

    MVP has also performed music in the past and released his first hip-hop song titled \”Holla to da World\” featuring Dwayne Swayze in June 2011. On March 18, 2013, he released his second song entitled \”Tokyo\” while \”Return of the Ronin\”, which became MVP\’s TNA theme, was released in January 2014. 

  • How to Vote In WWE\’s 2023 NXT Year-End Awards: Who\’s Nominated?

    The WWE Universe will be able to have its say about the very best of WWE NXT 2023 with the annual Year-End Awards of the gold brand. 

    2023 has been quite the formative year for NXT, as the brand continues to find its footing after the run as WWE NXT 2.0. What WWE NXT is doing is working as the brand was able to secure a massive deal with the CW Network which will host the gold brand from October of next year. 

    WWE NXT Year-End Awards

    On WWE.com, the fans will be able to vote on the following categories: 

    WWE NXT Match of the Year

    • Men\’s Iron Survivor Challenge – NXT Deadline
    • Carmelo Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov – No Mercy
    • Ilja Dragunov vs. Dijak – Battleground
    • Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton – No Mercy
    • Axiom vs. Tyler Bate – Global Heritage Invitational
    • Johnny Gargano vs. Grayson Waller
    • Seth \”Freakin\” Rollins vs. Bron Breakker
    • Roxanne Perez vs. Blair Davenport
    • JD McDonagh vs. Dragon Lee
    • Roxanne Perez vs. Kiana James – Halloween Havoc
    • Eddy Thorpe vs. Damon Kemp – NXT Underground Match

    WWE NXT Moment of the Year

    • Roxanne Perez collapses after defeating Meiko Satomura
    • Bron Breakker smashes Von Wagner with steel steps
    • Fallon Henley dresses up like Tiffany Stratton
    • The #FreeTonyD movement
    • Trick Williams gets attacked by a mystery assailant
    • Lash Legend slams Otis
    • Dominik Mysterio ends Wes Lee\’s historic North American Title reign
    • Jacy Jayne kicks Gigi Dolin through a door
    • Bron Breakker spears Carmelo Hayes through a wall
    • The Undertaker comes to NXT
    • Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin crash through Shawn Michaels\’ office wall

    WWE NXT Male Superstar of the Year

    • Ilja Dragunov
    • Carmelo Hayes
    • Trick Williams
    • Bron Breakker
    • Wes Lee
    • Dijak
    • Dragon Lee
    • Baron Corbin
    • Nathan Frazer
    • Axiom

    WWE NXT Female Superstar of the Year

    • Roxanne Perez
    • Tiffany Stratton
    • Thea Hail
    • Kiana James
    • Lyra Valkyria
    • Gigi Dolin
    • Jacy Jayne
    • Fallon Henley
    • Ivy Nile
    • Kelani Jordan

    WWE NXT Tag Team of the Year

    • The Creed Brothers
    • Tony D\’Angelo and Channing \”Stacks\” Lorenzo
    • Gallus
    • Josh Briggs and Brooks Jensen
    • Hank Walker and Tank Ledger
    • Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn
    • Kayden Carter and Katana Chance

  • Hidden Feature Uncovered in WCW/nWo Revenge After 25 Years, DDP Reacts

    It may have been decades since the release of the popular WCW/nWo Revenge video game, but this week, a hidden feature has been discovered. 

    WCW/nWo Revenge was released on the Nintendo 64 in late 1998 and as the name suggests, leaned heavily into the popularity of the New World Order at the time. The game featured one of the most up-to-date rosters as well as several arenas. 

    A New Feature

    As one of the most popular wrestling games around, WCW/nWo Revenge still has a legion of loyal players. This week, one player learned of a hidden feature in the game, which allows for running grapples. Rather than a running strike as is the norm, these moves allowed players to perform sequences while in motion, in what was a revolutionary concept for the time. 

    This reveal even got the attention of Diamond Dallas Page, who was a playable character in the game, and took to Twitter to share his reaction. 

    The Reception of WCW/nWo Revenge

    WCW/nWo Revenge received overwhelmingly positive reviews from fans and critics. Within a month, the game became the top-selling third-party Nintendo game ever. The game was praised for its improved graphics on its predecessor WCW Vs. nWo: World Tour, as well as new features including a Championship Mode. The game would eventually sell 1.88 million copies in the US, making it one of the best-selling N64 games of all time. It would also outsell the also-popular WWF No Mercy game, which would be released two years later. 

  • D-Von Dudley & Wife Taylor Hughes Welcome Birth Of New Son DJ

    The Dudley family has grown by one this week, as D-Von Dudley has welcomed a new baby boy into the fold. 

    Taking to Facebook this week, D-Von, real name Devon Hughes, announced the birth of DJ, who was born on December 19th and weighed in at 6lbs and 11 oz. D-Von added that the mother and baby are doing great and thanked fans for their well-wishes. 

    D-Von has quite a large family, and prior to the arrival of DJ, already has four sons and two daughters. Terrell and Terrence were both in February 1995 and have followed their father into the ring. The twins have made appearances for AEW in the past. Matthew was both in November 2001 and Preston was born in June 2008. After marrying his current wife Taylor, the couple welcomed Taliyah into the world in August 2019 and Amiyah in January 2020. 

    D-Von Dudley Back in the Ring

    At the start of this year, D-Von Dudley hadn\’t competed since a December 2016 event for House of Glory Wrestling. That changed this past September though when D-Von teamed with Bully Ray for IMPACT Wrestling\’s 1,000th episode to defeat Champagne Singh and Rohit Raju. Following their successful reunion, Team 3-D announced they would take select bookings, but haven\’t competed since that show. At an autograph signing (also in September) D-Von said his return to the ring was not a one-time thing and he intends to come out of retirement. 

    We here at SE Scoops would like to extend our warmest congratulations to D-Von and his family on this joyous occasion. 

  • NHL Partnering With WWE for Commemorative Championship Belts

    The WWE and the National Hockey League are teaming up to release a new wave of commemorative championship titles, it has been claimed. 

    Wrestle Votes reports that the new championships will likely be available through Fanatics sometime in 2024. This new deal comes hot off the heels of WWE\’s massively successful partnership with the NFL to release high-quality championships for teams. All teams in the league have had titles created, with the championship for the Jacksonville Jaguars (as owned by AEW President Tony Khan) proving to be especially popular.

    These sports-themed championships are a new concept, but WWE has awarded their own titles to athletes in the past. Champion athletes have been receiving a replica WWE Championship for years. In February of this year, the Kansas City Chiefs were gifted a championship following their Super Bowl victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. 

    WWE\’s Legacy Championships

    It\’s not just the NFL and the NHL that have custom championships created by WWE. Over the years, several Superstars and legends of the past have had Legacy Championships to celebrate their respective accolades. These titles typically feature the plates of a championship significant to the wrestler in question, with a custom strap featuring a distinct color scheme and design. Earlier this month, WWE released new Legacy Championships celebrating the longest reigning tag-team champions in WWE history The Usos. 

    Liv Morgan was recently on hand to gift a Green Bay Packers Championship to Packers Running Back Aaron Jones at a recent game. Click here to learn more. 

  • MJF on WWE Possibly Toning Him Down: \”How the F*** Do You Put a Leash On Me?\”

    AEW World Champion MJF doesn\’t believe that his persona could be watered-down in WWE, despite the PG nature of the Stamford promotion. 

    MJF has often teased leaving AEW for WWE, though these references on TV have dried up with Friedman\’s face turn. Speaking on the SI Media podcast, MJF was asked about whether he feels his character would be toned down in the event of a WWE move. 

    \”I just don\’t know how the f*** you put a leash on me. And I swear to God that\’s my honest opinion… I don\’t know, I don\’t think anybody can hold me back from being the monster that I am. I think my career trajectory in any company is going to be exactly the same.

    \”Do I think in some aspects AEW fits me more like a glove than anywhere else? Yeah, I do. Could an argument be made the other way around? Yeah, sure. These are all things that I have to think about. But I do know whatever company I pick, it will be because it feels right and it means the most to me. 

    WWE has reportedly had its eye on MJF for some time, in addition to other AEW talent. Cody Rhodes recently said that he predicts MJF will join WWE one day, but stopped short of saying what day he believes that will be. In the interview, MJF wasn\’t surprised that those in WWE are showing great interest in him. 

    \”It\’s normal. Of course, you want MJF in your company. Who the f*** wouldn\’t want me in their company? I\’m the best thing going today. I\’m the AEW World Champion. Nobody dresses like me. Nobody talks like me. Nobody looks like me. Nobody walks like me and nobody wrestles like me. 

    \”I take it as a compliment and I think the AEW fans should take it as a compliment too. Because that means that their World Champion, the face of their company, is a hot commodity.\”

    Whatever the future holds, MJF\’s next title defense will come at AEW Worlds End next week against Samoa Joe. The show will take place on December 30, from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. 

    MJF was recently inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Click here to find out more. 

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

  • Don\’t Count Out Zac Efron Competing in AEW One Day

    Could Zac Efron one day compete in an AEW ring following the release of The Iron Claw? Don\’t count it out according to the Greatest Showman actor.

    The Iron Claw delves into the lives and numerous tragedies of the Von Erich wrestling family. The wrestling lineage began with Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson,) and his sons would also find success in the squared circle. The Von Erichs are still a force in wrestling today with Marshall & Ross Von Erich competing to this day.

    Zac Efron in AEW? 

    Efron\’s performance has been heralded by critics and we could soon see more of the star in the Squared Circle. In a recent interview with The Masked Man Show, Efron was asked about the possibility of stepping into the ring and named AEW as a possible destination.

    \”It’d be fun if we could get in there with some of the guys we worked with, with Chavo [Guerrero ]or even the Von Erichs coming back with AEW. I’d love to do something with them. If we had some time and prep and, especially if we were all out there together, that would be fun as hell. Who knows. Don’t count it out, that’s for sure.”

    Chavo Guerrero worked as the wrestling choreographer for The Iron Claw, and was very impressed with Efron. The Von Erichs, represented by Kevin, Russ, and Marshall, appeared on last week\’s episode of AEW Rampage which was fittingly filmed in Texas. The segment saw Kevin deliver the Iron Claw to Jake Hager. 

    Check out SE Scoops\’ official (spoiler-free) review of The Iron Claw by clicking here.

  • Rey Mysterio\’s New Deal Should Keep Him in WWE For a Long Time to Come

    The new contract of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio will keep the masked legend around for years to come, it has been claimed. 

    This week, news broke that the three-time former World Champion had signed a new deal with WWE, though it was not stated how long he\’ll be sticking around. In an update from Wrestling Observer Radio, it is believed that Rey\’s new deal is a five-year contract with the promotion. 

    If this report is accurate, Rey\’s new contract will keep him locked into a deal with WWE until the end of 2028. At this point, Rey will be 54 years old and likely retired. Mysterio said last year that he does not intend to wrestle past 50, though it\’s entirely possible plans have changed. 

    WWE\’s Upcoming Contracts

    Rey Mysterio will be staying with WWE for years to come, but the promotion has several notable contracts due to expire relatively soon. Drew McIntyre\’s contract is due to expire in 2024 and there has been no public confirmation that he has re-signed with the promotion. McIntyre will challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on the Day 1 episode of Monday Night Raw.

    Current champion Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch both have contracts that are due to expire next year. In October, it was reported that WWE had yet to negotiate new deals with certain Superstars. 

    Rey Mysterio isn\’t the only member of his family who\’ll be sticking with WWE. Click here to learn more about \’Dirty\’ Dominik\’s new deal. 

  • Latest On Mercedes Mone\’s Contract Status: WWE, AEW Interest & More

    Mercedes Mone is proving to be quite the popular free agent with multiple options for the former Women\’s Champion. 

    Mone signed with New Japan earlier this year and would debut for the company at Wrestle Kingdom 18. The following month, Mone would capture the IWGP Women\’s Championship. She would hold the title until May before dropping the gold to current champion Mayu Iwatani. 

    Returning to New Japan Pro Wrestling? 

    Fightful Select reports that Mone is not signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling anymore, but that the company is interested in bringing her back into the fold. There has been no word on any talks between NJPW and Mone at this time. 

    Mercedes Mone & WWE

    While there have been reports that WWE is planning on renewing talks with several free agents at the start of next year there is no word if the former Sasha Banks\’ name is on the list. The report also notes that they’ve heard from no one close to the creative team of any plans to prepare for Mone’s possible return, despite false reports shared online to the contrary. While WWE has indicated interest in bringing Mone back, that is nothing new and there is no word that WWE is bringing Mone back. 

    Will Mercedes Mone Become All-Elite? 

    Fightful\’s report states that there were tentative plans back around All In for AEW and Mone to work together, but that this is no longer active. The two sides were far apart on \”terms\” but it is unclear if these terms relate to the number of dates, the schedule, money, creative, or something else entirely. Contrary to what has been said on social media, the door is not closed between the two sides. 

    Mone has been out of action since the NJPW Resurgence event in May of this year when she suffered an ankle injury. 

  • Matt Cardona Was Against GCW Feud with Nick Gage. Then It Changed His Career

    The landscape of the career of Matt Cardona was dramatically changed by his role with GCW, despite the ex-Superstar being against the idea at first.

    Cardona\’s 15-year career with WWE ended in April 2020 when he was released from the promotion. The former Zack Ryder captured the WWE & Raw Tag Team Championships in WWE, and had reigns as United States and Intercontinental Champion. 

    Matt Cardona on GCW Run

    With his WWE career over, Cardona reinvented himself on the independent scene, ditching his fun-loving face persona into a despicable heel who thrived in riling up audiences. Cardona\’s new character was never on more display than during his GCW feud with Nick Gage, which saw Cardona refer to Gage\’s past legal problems. On the Insight podcast, Cardona shared how the match came to be and admitted he was against the idea at first. 

    \”So John Carlo, my friend John Carlo, who was working for GCW at the time. Worked for WWE, now works for AEW, he pitched it to me. I said \’Absolutely f***ing not!\’ I am not wrestling, because Nick Gage was just on Dark Side of the Ring. He almost killed David Arquette in the ring, criminal, drug addict, I\’m not wrestling this guy!

    \”And then I took a step back and said \’Wait a minute. People are going to watch this.\’ People are going to talk about this. They\’re going to want to see Zack Ryder carved up by Nick Gage. So let\’s do it. And it was only a three-shot deal. Three shows: go in [and] attack Nick Gage. Have the match, and the one show after.\”

    The altercation and subsequent match with Gage would go viral on social media, which came as the world of wrestling was still being rocked by COVID. On the show, Cardona argued that the match helped change independent wrestling as it showed that smaller shows could still do big business. 

    \”I think we changed independent wrestling. I say we because GCW needed to be GCW, I needed to be me and Nick Gage needed to be Nick Gage. We needed all of those ingredients.

    \”It\’s an independent show in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But it trended number one over the UFC pay-per-view that night and the Olympics. Which is nuts. We had captured lightning in a bottle, I use that expression all the time. We had it and I just ran with it. 

    Cardona would dethrone Gage to win the GCW World Heavyweight Championship. In his efforts to rile up the fans, Cardona would introduce a \’Spinner\’ version of the GCW World title and attempt to bring \’Sports Entertainment\’ to the violent promotion. 

    A Possible WWE Return? 

    While Cardona is killing it outside of WWE, the former Superstar has previously said he\’d consider an offer to return. On the podcast, Cardona made it clear that he still has a lot of appreciation for what WWE did for him. 

    \”[I\’m] so, so grateful to WWE for Zack Ryder. That was my dream, I lived it. Highest of highs, lowest of lows, I\’m forever grateful for that time. It set me up for who I am today, but it\’s over. Zack Ryder is dead. If I ever were to go back to WWE, if it was up to me, it\’d be as Matt Cardona.\” 

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

  • CM Punk Once Had Real Fights On a WWE Plane. It Didn\’t Go Well…

    CM Punk may lay claim to being the \’Best in the World\’ but his fighting skills were outmatched by some WWE Superstars during a 2006 flight.

    That year was a formative one for Punk, who made his TV debut as part of the relaunched ECW brand. Punk was a personal project of ECW head Paul Heyman, and would quickly become one of the most featured stars on the show. 

    CM Punk\’s On-Board Flights

    On a recent edition of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker spoke about Punk and the relationship they have had in the ring. The Phenom recalled a time when Punk was traveling with the roster for the 2006 edition of Tribute to the Troops in Baghdad, Iraq. 

    \”Somehow or another, the discussion comes up. I don’t know if Vince instigated this one or not… CM Punk, he fashioned himself as a jiu-jitsu practitioner. Someone broached the question, ‘You did jiu-jitsu. How long do you think you could last with one of these two wrestlers?’ It was Bobby Lashley, who wrestled for the Army, and Shelton Benjamin, who wrestled at Minnesota.\”

    The Undertaker added that Punk was confident, telling the roster \”I\’ll tap them out.\” Despite this bravado, Punk was quickly humbled by Lashley and Benjamin. 

    \”I want to say the first match lasted about 47 seconds. The other one was sub-40, where they had taken them down and pinned him. He didn’t back down, but my goodness, it was like blood in the water and two great white sharks circling.\”

    Years later, Punk would compete in the UFC and have similarly rotten luck. Punk lost two fights for the promotion, though one of his losses was overturned after his opponent tested positive for performance-enhancing substances. 

    CM Punk may have accidentally revealed the ring attire he\’ll wear for his WWE run going forward. Click here to find out more. 

  • NXT\’s Roxanne Perez to Make Indie Appearance for Reality of Wrestling

    Roxanne Perez has made her name as part of WWE NXT for some time now, but The Prodigy will soon make an appearance for Reality of Wrestling. 

    On Twitter, the official ROW account announced that Perez will be coming \”home\” for the upcoming \’One Night Only\’ event. The show will take place in Texas City, Texas, on January 13, 2024. 

    Roxanne Perez and ROW

    It\’s fitting that Perez will be at the upcoming Reality of Wrestling show given her history with the promotion. After training under Booker T, Perez made her in-ring debut for the Texan legend\’s Reality of Wrestling promotion in December 2018. As Rok-C, Perez is a former ROW Diamonds Division Champion. Booker has often referred to his personal connection to Perez on WWE NXT as the two-time Hall of Famer serves as a commentator for the gold brand. 

    Reality of Wrestling & WWE NXT. 

    Roxanne Perez isn\’t the only notable name to be associated with Booker T\’s promotion. In February, ROW reached a partnership with WWE NXT that has seen gold brand performers add some star power to shows. Ivy Nile, who was an NXT Superstar at the time, appeared at an event later that same month. In July, Trick Williams appeared for Reality of Wrestling. In September, fans attending ROW\’s The Next Chapter show got two appearances for the price of one as NXT\’s Charlie Dempsey and Axiom both competed on the show. 

    What does Roxanne Perez make to performing in her hometown? Click here to find out. 

  • Watch: What Happened with Cody Rhodes After This Week\’s WWE Raw?

    The American Nightmare was in an especially generous mood after this week\’s episode of WWE Monday Night Raw went off the air. 

    This week\’s episode of the Red brand was the final live show for the year, as next week\’s Raw will be a compilation show celebrating the best of 2023. This week\’s Raw saw the continuation of Seth Rollins\’s feud with Drew McIntyre ahead of their pair\’s World Heavyweight Championship match on the \’Day 1\’ episode of Raw. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter won the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships this week, ending the reign of Chelsea Green and Piper Niven. 

    Cody Rhodes at Monday Night Raw

    The December 18, 2023, episode of Raw was not a good one for Cody Rhodes, who continues to be the victim of mind games by Shinsuke Nakamura. The Japanese Superstar was in a festive mood and read his poem \’The American Nightmare Before Christmas, which featured several insults at Cody, including:

    \”You b*stard, you cancer,
    You prancer you nitwit.
    You\’re vomit, you\’re stupid.
    Your father was inbred.\”

    Rhodes would attack Nakamura for these comments, leading to a brawl that would be broken up by security. 

    Cody Rhodes After Monday Night Raw

    Despite this interaction with Nakamura, Rhodes was in a much better mood after this week\’s Raw went off the air. In an off-air segment, Rhodes gifted an entire Christmas tree to a fan at ringside. 

    This isn\’t the first time Rhodes has given something away after a WWE show. In the past, the American Nightmare has given away parts of a table broken during a stipulation match. 

  • ECW Legend Masato Tanaka is Coming to WrestleMania 40 Weekend

    Fans in the United States will soon get to see Masato Tanaka back in the ring as part of WrestleMania weekend next April.

    The 50-year-old continues to wrestle to this day and is looking for a role during the already-stacked weekend. On Twitter, Kikataru, the agent for Tanaka, shared that the Japanese wrestling legend is open to bookings for WrestleMania Weekend.

    Masato Tanaka

    Masato Tanaka began his wrestling career in July 1993 as part of FMW and would later find his way to ECW. In December 1999, Tanaka captured the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, becoming the first champion not to be an American citizen. Tanaka has competed twice for WWE, with these matches being at the ECW One Night Stand shows in 2005 and in 2005.

    WrestleMania Weekend

    The highlight of WrestleMania weekend in April 2024 will, of course, be WrestleMania 40. The two-night event will take place on April 6, and April 7 from Lincoln, Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. This will be WWE\’s fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a concept introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    With wrestling fans around the world descending on Philly, it\’s hardly a surprise that other companies are heading to the city of Brotherly Love. Game Changer Wrestling will host its annual The Collective next year: a series of events featuring numerous promotions. There will also be an \’ECW Experience\’ event for WrestleMania weekend, but it won\’t come cheap. For $9,000, fans can enjoy the EXW experience with Rob Van Dam, floor seats at WrestleMania 40, and a pre-show party with The Undertaker.

  • Drew McIntyre/ICW, Undertaker Adds Shows, Kurt Reacts to Meme & More

    Drew McIntyre\’s Shoutout to ICW

    Drew McIntyre hasn\’t competed for ICW in years but recently gave a message to the promotion. In a video to the Scottish-based promotion, McIntyre reflected on his favorite ICW moments, as the company will no longer be hosting its Fight Club events. 

    Randy Orton at Ringside

    On last week\’s SmackDown, Randy Orton made it clear he\’s coming for the Bloodline but was in no hurry to get in the ring. During his entrance, WWE cut to a commercial and in off-air footage, fans can see Orton taking his time at ringside while Roman Reigns stands in the ring. 

    Kurt Angle Reacts to His Meme

    WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle may be a huge name in wrestling, but the Olympian recently went viral as part of a meme. The meme itself shows a frazzled-looking Kurt, which Angle reacted to on his podcast. 

    \”I know that that video you know, it\’s kind of a weird-looking face, but for some strange reason everybody caught on and wanted to throw out some memes and I was the butt of the joke, I guess.\”

    Kurt later joked that he could just get paid to make that facial expression all day. Merchandise of the meme is already available. 

    The Undertaker Adds Shows

    As reported earlier this month, The Undertaker will be heading to Australia next February to host his 1deadMan show. WWE has now confirmed that the Deadman will be hitting three more towns. The Phenom will be appearing in Peth, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane. WWE will be in Australia in February for the WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth event. 

  • Nyla Rose & Serpentico \’Accidentally\’ Win Tag Titles Despite Hating Each Other

    Nyla Rose & Serpentico may not be champions in AEW, but the pair \’accidentally\’ captured gold at a recent independent event. 

    Taking to Twitter, Rose shared that she had been \’forced\’ to team with Serpentico at last weekend\’s Pandemonium: Pro Wrestling\’s Holiday in LA event. Not only was she forced to team with the masked wrestler, but Rose and Serpentico \’accidentally\’ won the promotion\’s Tag Team Championships. 

    Serpentico shared a photo of himself and his unlikely tag team partner, questioning if they can coexist as a duo. 

    Septentico was hardly thrilled with teaming up with Rose. In a separate tweet, he questioned why Rose was more interested with tweeting on her phone during their match rather than helping him out. 

    Nyla Rose & Serpentico

    Rose and Serpentico have had a long-running feud that dates back to a segment in which Rose threw some burgers while Serpentico was hungry. Serpentico has even accused Rose of being part of a \’conspiracy theory\’ to keep him off of TV, claiming the former AEW Women\’s World Champion is in the ear of Tony Khan. The pair often take shots at each other on Twitter, as seen in the posts below.

    Nyla Rose joined AEW in 2019. She is a former AEW Women\’s World Champion and the first openly transgender World Champion of a major wrestling promotion. Serpentico debuted for AEW in March 2020. He won his first match for AEW in July of that year and made his AEW Dynamite debut that December in the Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royal. 

  • Top Dolla\’s Botch Saved His Life After Learning Of His Type II Diabetes

    AJ \’Top Dolla\’ Francis\’ unfortunate botch on SmackDown may have become a meme among wrestling fans, but it also saved the young wrestler\’s life. 

    During the December 16, 2022, edition of WWE SmackDown, Top Dolla attempted a dive to the outside of the ring that didn\’t go as planned. Dolla didn\’t reach the necessary elevation and flopped outside of the ring, with his mistake being mocked online. The mistake was also made into an angle, as WWE Superstars would mock Dolla for the botch, bringing out a more aggressive side of the Superstar. 

    The Botch That Saved His Life

    Reflecting on the one-year anniversary of what happened, Top Dolla said that in the past, he\’d performed the dive and his legs had felt \”off\” but didn\’t think about it. After the mistake on SmackDown, he decided to see a doctor and learned he had Type II Diabetes. 

    Unused Plans

    In the weeks that followed, Michael Cole would routinely mock Top Dolla for the botch and would poke fun at the Superstar . Last month, Top Dolla revealed that Cole\’s comments were never malicious and that he was always on board with them. The plan, according to the ex-Superstar, was a PLE match, in which Cole would beat him after Dolla was distracted by a wrestler. 

    Top Dolla felt disappointment and shame after his initial release from WWE in late 2021, mere weeks after being called to the main roster. Click here to find out more. 

  • Director Sean Durkin Made His Most Difficult Decision During The Iron Claw Production

    Sean Durkin made the most difficult decision of his career when working on The Iron Claw, the director/writer/producer has revealed.

    The Iron Claw delves into the lives and numerous tragedies of the Von Erich wrestling family. The wrestling lineage began with Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson,) and his sons would also find success in the squared circle. The Von Erichs are still a force in wrestling today with Marshall & Ross Von Erich competing to this day.

    Sean Durkin\’s Hardest Decision

    While The Iron Claw features plenty of members of the legendary wrestling family, Chris Von Erich isn\’t featured in the A24 biopic. The smallest of the brothers, Chris faced several health problems that limited his success in the ring. Following the suicide of his brother Mike in 1987, Chris took his own life on September 12, 1991. 

    Speaking to Uproxx, Durkin was asked about the decision not to include Chris and admitted it was a tough call for him to make. 

    \”I’ve never had a more difficult decision to make as a writer. I care so deeply, so it was painful. But you have to make tough decisions and you have to do what’s best to get the film made. I wrote this script for seven years and Chris was in it for a long time.

    \”So there was a point where it became clear that if you separate yourself from the emotional connection to the family and to real life, you have to separate and say, okay, well, this is a movie, these are characters, and the movie just cannot withstand another death at that point in the movie.\”

    The Iron Claw will be released in cinemas across the United States next week. For a behind-the-scenes look at the new film, click here.