SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Watch: What Happened With Bryan Danielson After AEW Collision Went Off Air?

    Bryan Danielson may no longer be a WWE Superstar, but that didn\’t stop him from using an old WWE catchphrase of his after this week\’s AEW Collision. 

    This week\’s Collision saw the roster of AEW continue on the road to Worlds End, which will take place in Uniondale, New York on December 30. In the AEW Continental Classic, Claudio Castagnoli defeated Andrade El Idolo to earn three points. Eddie Kingston defeated Daniel Garcia to earn three points. Garcia is still competing but has already been statistically eliminated as he has yet to score a single point. 

    Bryan Danielson After AEW Collision

    In the main event of this week\’s AEW Collision, Bryan Danielson defeated Brody King to earn three points in the Blue League. After the show, Danielson received a loud YES! chant from the crowd, and Bryan admitted he\’s not allowed to do that anymore. Thinking better of it, Danielson decided to join in with the YES! chant and thanked the fans for coming out to the show.

    This victory gives Danielson a total of nine points, putting him in joint first place in the Blue League, alongside Andrade El Idolo. In the Gold League, Jon Moxley is in first place with 12 points, while Swerve Strickland and Jay White currently have nine points. 

    What\’s Next? 

    Next week will see the final points-based matches in the AEW Continental Classic. On December 27, AEW will host its Dynamite: New Year\’s Smash event, in which the first and second place of each league will face off. The winners of those matches will face off at AEW World End to determine the first AEW Triple Crown Champion. 

  • Zelina Vega Praised Backstage After Working Double SmackDown Taping Ill

    A WWE SmackDown Superstar impressed a lot of people behind the scenes by working the latest episode of the blue brand while ill.  

    The December 15, episode of SmackDown saw the return of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, who was immediately confronted by Randy Orton. While the Viper demanded a match against Reigns for the Royal Rumble PLE, the Tribal Chief was in no hurry to grant the match. The show also saw the return of AJ Styles, who turned heel with an attack on LA Knight.

     This week\’s show also saw the continuation of the U.S. Championship Contenders Tournament. NXT\’s Carmelo Hayes defeated Grayson Waller to advance to the next round while Kevin Owens bested Austin Theory. 

    Zelina Vega is Ill

    Zelina Vega worked through this week\’s SmackDown taping in Green Bay, Wisconsin despite an illness, PW Insider reports. It\’s unclear what Vega\’s illness is, but it was noted during the production meeting before the show that she was sick. This isn\’t the first time Vega has earned praise backstage, as she was heralded for her emotional reaction to Santos Escobar\’s attack on Rey Mysterio a few weeks ago. 

    The night was doubly tough for Vega, as WWE also filmed its December 22 episode last night, giving the roster more time during the Holidays to spend with their families. On this week\’s live episode of SmackDown, Vega teamed with \’Michin\’ Mia Yim in a losing effort to Damage CTRL\’s Asuka & Kairi Sane. For more information on what Vega will do on next week\’s edition of the blue brand, click here. 

    WWE introduced a brand new match type before this week\’s episode of SmackDown went on the air. Click here to find out more. 

  • Mark Briscoe On WWE\’s \”Dem Boyz\” Tweet: \’I Can\’t Just Keep Silent, That\’s Disrespectful\’

    Mark Briscoe has shared why he put WWE on blast following a tweet that he and many found to be highly disrespectful. 

    Earlier this week, WWE tweeted an image of The Street Profits and Bobby Lashley, captioned with the phrase \’Dem Boyz.\’ While the term is used by many across sports and entertainment, in wrestling, the term is associated with the Briscoes. 

    WWE faced criticism for the tweet, with Mark sharing his own criticism and saying somebody running the account should be fired. In a follow-up tweet, however, Briscoe said that nobody needs to be fired but was still not pleased with the tweet. 

    Mark Briscoe on WWE\’s Dem Boyz Tweet

    Speaking on the post-ROH Final Battle Media Scrum, Briscoe recalled his reaction to the tweet at the time. 

    \”I thought, ‘Man, on the anniversary of this match that we had, they’re really going to do that? That’s kind of disrespectful. I can’t just keep silent. There’s only one Dem Boyz.’ You can talk about the Dallas Cowboys and multiple songs in the hip hop genre. That’s all good. In professional wrestling, there is only one Dem Boyz. That’s Mark and Jay Briscoe. I had to let them know there only one Dem Boyz.\”

    Briscoe concluded by reiterating that there is only one pair of \’Dem Boyz\’ in WWE even with Jay\’s passing. 

    \”It’s not easy and we’re adjusting to this new normal. If anybody in the professional wrestling world is going to call themselves Dem Boyz, I’m going to come at you [laughs]. I don’t care who you are. There’s only one Dem Boyz and that’s the Briscoe Brothers, damn it.\”

    Briscoe also said that after seeing the negativity from some to his tweet, he felt that things had gotten out of hand. He also pointed out that he\’s a human being and is still struggling with the death of his brother in January of this year. 

    H/T – Fightful

  • Jake Paul Wants to be Logan\’s Tag Team Partner in WWE

    Jake Paul isn\’t opposed to stepping in the ring with his brother Logan, but would rather be an ally of the U.S. Champion than an opponent. 

    Logan Paul has made quite the impact since arriving in WWE two years ago and currently boasts a 4-4 win/loss record. At WWE Crown Jewel, Paul captured the U.S. Championship from Rey Mysterio, giving the Maverick his first taste of WWE gold. 

    Jake Paul Wants a Tag Team

    With Logan Paul making waves in WWE, speculation has grown as to whether Jake Paul could one day step into the ring with his brother. Speaking to Muscle Man Malcolm, Jake admitted that rather than facing his brother,  he\’d rather team with the Maverick in a WWE ring. 

    ”Man, I’m trying to be on his team. I don’t want to go up against him. He’s a dog in WWE. I’m trying to be his tag team partner.”

    Logan Paul has so far competed in one tag-team match in WWE, which was his debut match. The Maverick teamed with The Miz to defeat Rey & Dominik Mysterio but was betrayed by WWE\’s resident A-Lister after the bout. 

    Jake Paul in WWE

    Unlike his brother, Jake Paul has yet to compete in WWE but has made an appearance in the past. The Problem Child was in Logan\’s corner at Crown Jewel 2022 for Logan\’s match with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief would win the match, handing Logan Paul his first WWE loss in the process. 

    Has Logan Paul mastered a new way of the entertainment industry? Jake Paul believes so. Click here to find out more. 

  • Tony Khan Will Never Stop Fighting WWE \”No Matter What Happens\”

    Tony Khan has been at odds with WWE for years, but the AEW/ROH President believes standing against the Stamford promotion is worth the fight. 

    It was in 2019 that Khan launched AEW, which has proven to be the most significant competition to WWE since the demise of WCW in 2001. In March of last year, Khan added Ring of Honor to his collection. It was reported at the time that WWE had its sights set on acquiring ROH as well, though reportedly only wanted the promotion for its media library. 

    Tony Khan is Ready to Fight

    Khan has been competing with WWE for some time now but is hardly the first figure to stand against Vince McMahon\’s empire. Speaking on the post-ROH Final Battle media scrum, Khan addressed competing for the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. 

    \”It\’s worth the fight, and I love the fight. I\’m never gonna stop fighting. No matter what happens, no matter how things change. It\’s the fight Jim Crockett fought, Verne Gagne, Ted Turner and so many other people that tried.\”

    Khan was happy to look at those who\’ve competed against WWE in the past, while also noting how AEW is different. During the media scrum, Khan compared the success of AEW to that of WCW. 

    ”The numbers we’re doing for our tickets are not only comparable to what WCW was doing in the mid 90s, but in many cases better. So our numbers are better per show than in WCW 94 and right on 96 and 95.”

    Khan\’s next big show will come later this month with the first AEW Worlds End event. The show will take place on December 30 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. 

  • Full Spoilers for WWE SmackDown Set to Air on December 22

    The WWE Universe at this week\’s SmackDown got a special treat, as they watched two episode of the blue brand on one night.

    With the Holidays coming up, WWE decided to film next week\’s episode of SmackDown this week, to give the Superstars some time off during the festive period. Here are the spoilers for the episode of SmackDown that will air on December 22:

    • Santos Escobar defeated Bobby Lashley to advance to the finals of the United States Championship Contenders Tournament. Escobar won with the help of Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo. 
    • Dragon Lee (c) defeated Butch to retain the NXT North American Championship
    • AJ Styles appeared dressed all in black and said he doesn\’t care about Randy Orton and LA Knight. Styles said he should be the one facing Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble. Knight and Orton interrupted the segment. SmackDown GM Nick Aldis announced a triple threat match for the “New Year’s Revolution” edition of Smackdown. The winner will face Reigns at the Rumble.

    • Bianca Belair Shotzi, Zelina Vega and Michin defeated Damage CTRL. The babyfaces entered on a Christmas-themed tank and there was a Merry Christmas chant during the match. Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre attacked Kairi Sane at one point. 

    • Kevin Owens defeated Carmelo Hayes to advance to the finals of the United States Championship Contenders Tournament. Owens will face Santos Escobar in the finals. 
    • AJ Styles vs. Solo Sikoa ended in a DQ when Reigns attacked Styles. A brawl involving Styles, Knight, Orton, and the Bloodline ensued with Knight standing tall in the end. 

    To find out what happened on this week\’s episode of WWE SmackDown, click here. 

  • WWE Wanted New Orton Theme, New Titles for The Usos, Lexis King Names Fans & More

    Randy Orton\’s New Theme Song

    Randy Orton is back on WWE programming, and fans are loving here Rev Theory\’s \’Voices\’ once again. Fightful Select reports however that WWE considered ditching the theme and going with a new song for the Viper\’s return. While a revamped version of Voices was recently recorded, Orton\’s new theme wasn\’t going to be that. The former WWE Champion has used Voices since 2008. 

    New Titles for the Usos

    The Usos may no longer be a tag team, but fans will soon have the chance to celebrate the highly-successful duo. This week, WWE shared new custom celebration titles celebrating the record-long title reign of Jimmy and Jey. The pair held the SmackDown Tag Team Championships from Money in the Bank 2021 to WrestleMania 39 in April 2023.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C04gBD6OQp4

    Lexis King Names His Fans

    Lexis King is making a name for himself in WWE NXT, but has been in need of a name for his fans. During a Runescape Twitch stream, King recently encouraged his fans not call themselves \’Registered Lex Offenders.\’ On Twitter this week, King promoted his Cameo video to his fans, now dubbed \’IntelLexuals.\’

    Tiffany Stratton & Paris Hilton

    Tiffany Stratton is quite the blonde bombshell in NXT, and has spoken in the past about being inspired by the liked of Sharpay Evans and Paris Hilton. This week, Hilton performed a Hilton-inspired TikTok which caught the attention of the reality star/heiress. In the comments, Hilton responded saying \”Loves it!\”

  • WWE Speed: New Match Type Tested At SmackDown

    The WWE Universe was introduced to a brand-new match type last night before SmackDown went on the air. 

    The December 15, episode of SmackDown saw the return of Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, who was immediately confronted by Randy Orton. While the Viper demanded a match against Reigns for the Royal Rumble PLE, the Tribal Chief was in no hurry to grant the match. The show also saw the return of AJ Styles, who turned heel with an attack on LA Knight. 

    What is WWE Speed?

    Before SmackDown began broadcasting, the fans in attendance were treated to the introduction of the WWE 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. 

    Per Fightful, Corey Graves and Kevin Patrick were on commentary, and the matches were filmed as if they\’d be broadcasted. There\’s no word yet if these matches, or the WWE Speed concept, will make its way onto WWE programming in the months ahead.

    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.

  • Watch MJF Make Surprise Appearance At Create-A-Pro Frostbite 2 Event

    MJF may be the top name in All Elite Wrestling, but the resident Scumbag of wrestling hasn\’t forgotten where he came from. 

    The reigning AEW World Champion began training to be a wrestler in 2014 as part of the Create A Pro Wrestling Academy run by Brian Myers and Pat Buck. This week, Create a Pro\’s Wrestling promotion held its Frostbite 2 event. MJF decided to make a surprise appearance at the show and earned a thunderous response from the fans. MJF even got a cheer after simply saying \”hello\” to the crowd as seen in the clip below. 

    After his time training with Create a Pro, MJF would compete for CZW and later make his name in MLW. He signed with AEW in 2019 and captured the AEW World Championship at Full Gear 2022. 

    What\’s Next for MJF? 

    MJF will defend the AEW World Championship later this month at the first AEW Worlds End event. MJF will defend against Samoa Joe at the event, but will not be entering the match at 100%. Whether MJF retains the title at Worlds End or not, his tenure as an ROH World Tag Team Champion could come to an end soon. Tony Khan recently shared that he\’s considered stripping MJF & Adam Cole of the titles. Due to Cole\’s injury, Better Than You Bay Bay has only defended once as a team since winning the gold at AEW All In. 

    Could MJF one day be known as a WWE Superstar? Cody Rhodes thinks it is certainly possible. Click here to find out more. 

  • Bronson Reed Seeks Gold, Kelani Jordan Wins Big, Santos Improvises & More

    Bronson Reed Wants the World Heavyweight Championship

    Bronson Reed has yet to hold gold on WWE\’s main roster but is setting his sights on Raw\’s top prize. When a fan said that WWE needs a \”Big Boy Belt\” for the superheavyweights of the company, Reed made it clear he wants the World Heavyweight Championship. 

    The World Heavyweight Championship has been held by Seth Rollins since May of this year. Reed is a former NXT North American Champion. 

    NXT Photographer Leaves WWE

    WWE NXT is how many Superstars are introduced to fans, but for one member of the crew, the gold brand is where his tenure with WWE will end. On Twitter, Esteban Cardenas said that this week\’s NXT taping was his last and was grateful for his time with the brand. 

    Kevin Owens Meets Brendan Fraser

    Kevin Owens\’ career as a WWE Superstar has allowed him the chance to meet many interesting names. This week, the SmackDown Superstar met with Brendan Fraser. Owens bumped into the star of The Mummy and The Whale at Disneyland. 

    Kelani Jordan Wins Big at the PC

    NXT Superstar Kelani Jordan has been impressing fans and had a very impressive performance in the Iron Survivor Challenge at WWE NXT Deadline. Jordan is also making an impression outside of the ring. On Twitter, the young Superstar shared that she has been awarded the \’Queen of the Weight Room\’ accolade at the Performance Center. 

    Jordan made her in-ring debut for WWE in October of last year and had her first TV match in May 2023. She has a 17-21 win/loss record. 

    Santos Escobar Improvises

    During their match at Survivor Series, Santos Escobar tried to tear the mask off of Dragon Lee. On the Wrestling with Freddie podcast, Santos admitted the spot wasn\’t planned. 

     I tore Dragon Lee’s mask. That was 100% non-scripted. That was just the heel in me and I think it’s important that our audiences get that feel.

    Escobar won their match and their first-round match in the U.S. Championship Contenders Tournament. 

  • United Japan Pro Wrestling is Coming: 9 Promotions Teaming to Create New Group

    A new Japanese wrestling promotion featuring the very best of various existing promotions will be premiering in May of next year. 

    In a statement, New Japan Pro Wrestling announced \’United Japan Pro Wrestling\’ which will feature nine existing promotions working together. It\’s stated that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that there was a need for companies to work closely together to relay accurate information and best operating practices between promotions. United Japan Pro Wrestling will work with the following mission statement: 

    \”To further the presence of pro-wrestling and its cultural merit in Japanese society at large, allow professional wrestling to contribute further to cultural and sporting sectors, and work toward continued health and prosperity of the industry.\”

    Who\’s In?

    New Japan Pro Wrestling is just one of the nine promotions coming together for \’The Group.\’ The full listing of promotions is as follows: 

    • New Japan Pro-Wrestling
    • All Japan Pro-Wrestling
    • Pro-Wrestling NOAH
    • DDT Pro-Wrestling
    • Ganbare ? Pro-Wrestling
    • Big Japan Pro-Wrestling
    • DRAGONGATE
    •  STARDOM
    •  Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling

    The Group\’s founding chair is Seiji Sakaguchi who after retiring from the ring, currently works with New Japan as an advisor. The Group\’s executive office will be with New Japan and NJPW Chairman Naoki Sugabayashi will serve as Executive Chief. 

    First Show

    The nine members of The Group will continue to operate as individual businesses and as competition in the market, but will work to ensure that Japanese wrestling continues to thrive. The formation of the Group will be marked by an event on May 6, 2024, in Nippon Budokan under the banner of United Japan Pro-Wrestling.

  • Santa at AEW Rampage, Bryan Danielson Vs. AI, Fight Forever DLC & More

    Santa Claus Goes Viral at Rampage

    Santa Claus can travel across the planet in a single night, and Jolly Ol\’ St. Nick recently touched down for the AEW Rampage tapings. In a clip that has gone viral, Santa can be seen in the crowd for the show, and when approached by an elf, greeted his employee with a big hug. 

    Bryan Danielson Won\’t Be Replaced

    A lot has been said about how Artificial Intelligence could affect the world of entertainment, whether it be in artistic design, editing, or creative writing. Taking to Twitter, the American Dragon gave a unique reason as to why a computer will never be able to replace him. 

    https://twitter.com/bryandanielson/status/1735476784173592639

    AEW Fight Forever DLC

    After many delays, AEW Fight Forever was released earlier this year, and fans now get to enjoy some downloadable content for the game. The new Beat The Elite DLC sees a chosen wrestler face 10 random AEW wrestlers, wth the final opponent being a member of the Elite. Winners are rewarded with in-game cosmetic items. 

    AEW Teaming with Toys for Tots

    With the holidays coming up, AEW is doing what it can to help young people who are in unfortunate situations. On Twitter, Tony Khan announced that over $1 million worth of toys will be going to kids this season. The final AEW Continental Classic league bouts will be known as AEW\’s Tournament for Tots. 

  • Possibility of AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery Parting Ways in 2024 (Report)

    What would it mean for AEW if their relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery was to end next year? 

    Since launching, AEW has been allied with Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent company of TNT and TBS. Tony Khan has shown immense loyalty to WBD and when looking for a TV deal for Ring of Honor, only approached WBD-owned broadcasters. 

    AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery

    WWE is currently on the hunt for a new broadcast partner for Monday Night Raw, with the red brand\’s deal with the USA Network set to expire next year. With the USA Network set to become the home of SmackDown, it is believed that the network will not renew its deal with Raw. Speaking on his Rumor & Innuendo podcast, Nick Hausman addressed what could be next for AEW\’s relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery if talks with WWE prove fruitful. 

    \”From what I gathered, Tony was getting quite a big part of the ad revenue for Dynamite early on, which when the new people came in [after WBD merger], they were like, \’Whoa, how did you get this deal? We don\’t really want to continue on with this, If this is going to be the ad rev share that we\’re going to be doing\’ So you\’ve got that. You\’ve got the NBA stuff.

    \”I also have been told by a couple people for months, that there is the belief that Warner has some kind of investment in AEW. Tony has 100% control of the company, but at a certain point, Warner made some kind of investment I\’m speculating, guessing maybe to recoup a little bit of what they were losing with the ad share.

    \”So while I don\’t, well again….it was told to me that this meeting that appears to be what Dave is referencing [between WWE and WBD], and got everybody all worked up about did not happen. There are other indicators to me that things are not going maybe as Tony is projecting publicly, and I would not be surprised to see AEW and Warner may be part ways next year.\”

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

  • WWE Bringing Back Iconic Stipulation for Cody Rhodes\’ MSG Match

    Cody Rhodes will face Shinsuke Nakamura at the upcoming WWE live event in Madison Square Garden, in a match we\’ve not seen in WWE in over a decade. 

     In recent years, it has become a tradition for WWE to host an event inside the World\’s Most Famous Arena on Boxing Day. This year will prove to be no different, with a special match planned for Nakamura and Rhodes. As first reported by Michael Kay of ESPN, the pair will face off in a Bull Rope match at the December 26 show.

    Rhodes had previously been scheduled to face \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio at the end. Instead, Mysterio will face CM Punk in the latter\’s first WWE match since January 2014. 

    This match will mark Cody\’s first bull rope match in WWE, and his second overall. He previously faced Jay Lethal in a bull rope match in ROH in 2017. This will mark Nakamura\’s first bull rope match in his career. WWE\’s most recent bull rope match took place in 2009 and saw Hornswoggle defeat Chavo Guerrero in under two minutes. A more competitive match took place in 2007 and saw Randy Orton face Cody\’s father the \’American Dream\’ Dusty Rhodes. 

    WWE in Madison Square Garden

    Here is the card for the upcoming event inside Madison Square Garden: 

    • Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins (c) Vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
    • Finn Balor & Damian Priest (c) Vs. Sami Zayn & Jey Uso (Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)
    • CM Punk Vs. \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio
    • Cody Rhodes Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (Texas Bullrope Match)

    Other names being advertised include WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, The New Day, Ricochet, Raquel Rodriguez, and Omos. 

  • A Top Suspect in the AEW Devil Investigation May Have Just Been Ruled Out

    We\’re yet to know who is causing havoc in AEW while wearing the mask of the Devil, but it appears that one suspect is in the clear. 

    On last week\’s Dynamite, MJF accused Page of being the \’Hangman\’ Adam Page of being the Devil, and Page claimed that MJF was behind the mask. In the closing moments of this week\’s show, Page was attacked by the Devil\’s henchmen and the Devil himself was present in the parking lot. 

    Who is the Devil? 

    The attack on Page ended with the former AEW World Champion being slammed onto a car windshield, which led some to believe the Devil is Jack Perry. Perry has long been suspected of being behind the mask with his suspension from AEW reportedly ending over a month ago. It was Perry\’s use of real glass at All In that would ultimately end CM Punk\’s tenure with the company as well. 

    While certain signs point to Perry, it appears that the former FTW Champion isn\’t behind these attacks. A high-level source who spoke to Fightful Select after the attack on Page clarified that they don\’t believe Jack Perry is involved in the angle. Of course, plans could change but it has previously been reported that the Devil\’s henchmen are being played on screen by the talent who will ultimately be unmasked. 

    Update on \’Hangman\’ Page

    It was added that \’Hangman\’ Page will be off TV for the time being to sell the impact of this attack. There is currently no time window as to when fans can expect the Cowboy back on TV. 

  • Drew McIntyre: \”I\’ll Drop CM Punk\’s A** If He Pushes Me\”

    Drew McIntyre is pleased to see CM Punk bring big numbers to WWE, but won\’t hesitate to \’drop\’ Punk if he\’s pushed. 

    The former AEW World Champion returned to WWE in the closing moments of last month\’s Survivor Series: WarGames event. The event marked Punk\’s first WWE appearance since the 2014 Royal Rumble and his first appearance in wrestling since his AEW release in September of this year. 

    Drew McIntyre on CM Punk

    During this week\’s episode of Raw, CM Punk had a backstage confrontation with McIntyre as part of the Scottish Warrior\’s ongoing heel run. Appearing on The Bump, McIntyre recalled being around Punk during their respective first runs in WWE, and gave a warning to the Best in the World. 

    \”I was on television when I was 22 in 2007. I spent years, I was around the person. I know the person. I know what he’s truly like. I’m aware. It’s cool and does numbers. That’s awesome for right now.

    \”But I’m gonna wait and see right now ‘cause I can’t control who gets signed, who doesn’t get signed. I’ve got stories, I’m gonna keep them to myself. And in the future, if we cross paths, I ain’t the same guy as I was in 2010. I’m a lot bigger, smarter, more experienced, and I’ll drop his ass.”

    McIntyre and CM Punk have yet to go one-on-one in WWE but they have shared the ring several times. Their most recent match was as part of a battle royal during the October 11, 2011, edition of SmackDown. The match was won by Randy Orton who unsuccessfully challenged World Heavyweight Champion Mark Henry later in the show. 

  • BIG LITTLE BRAWLERS Series on Micro Wrestling Coming to Discovery

    A new series focusing on the action of micro wrestling is coming to the Discovery Channel next month. 

    In a statement, Discovery confirmed plans for the new show \’BIG LITTLE BRAWLERS\’ with the following message: 

    (Burbank, CA) Full of heart, drama and high-flying micro wrestling, the six-part series \”BIG LITTLE BRAWLERS\” premieres Tuesday, January 9 at 10PM ET/PT on Discovery Channel. As they attempt to achieve their piece of the American Dream, a group of remarkable little people athletes with larger-than-life personalities are forced to overcome ego, injury, and the limitations imposed by society.

    Set in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, \”BIG LITTLE BRAWLERS\” follows athletes in the Micro Wrestling Federation, one of the most successful little person wrestling leagues in the world. \”Pinky Shortcake\” and \”Syko,\” parents and wrestling partners, must navigate their relationship both in and out of the ring. The voice of micro wresting, \”Ivar the Micro,\” dreams of going from hype man to wrestler despite significant physical risk. Popular veteran \”Lil\’ Show\” wrestles to support his wife and children but fears his best moments in the ring are behind him. And, the up-and-coming wrestler \”Hot Rod\” must prove his talent lives up to his ego. Despite internal dramas and frustrations, Micro Wresting Federation CEO Jack Darrell Hillegass encourages the group to work together as a family as they approach \”MicroFest,\” the biggest micro wresting event of the year.

    \”Alongside spectacular feats of athleticism, this Discovery series broadens the way we reveal compelling stories of remarkable people overcoming huge odds,\” said Howard Lee, President of Discovery Networks and TLC.

    Audiences can follow the conversation on social media with #BigLittleBrawlers and follow Discovery on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.

    Micro Wrestling

    In 1997, WWE introduced its \’mini\’ division, with wrestlers from AAA including Max Mini, El Torito, Mascarita Sagrada, Mini Vader, and La Parkita. Eight years later, WWE SmackDown would briefly host the \’juniors\’ division, though the competitors in this division would often be portrayed as childlike due to their size. While WWE released the vast majority of the division in 2006, WWE kept Dylan Postl, who would become better known to fans as Hornswoggle. 

    Outside of WWE, several promotions have had their own divisions of little people. In 2009, Johnny \’Attitude\’ Greene debuted his Micro Championship Wrestling promotion, which featured promotional videos by Hulk Hogan. 

  • Will MJF Sign With WWE? Cody Rhodes Believes \”One Day\”

    MJF will one day be known as a WWE Superstar, at least according to current WWE top star and AEW alum Cody Rhodes. 

    The reigning AEW World Champion has often teased moving to WWE, though these teases have stopped ever since he became an on-screen babyface. MJF did try out for WWE as part of 2011\’s Tough Enough, and his video application is suspiciously still online on WWE\’s YouTube channel. MJF also appeared as a security guard during a segment with Samoa Joe, which has been referenced as part of their AEW feud. 

    Cody Rhodes on MJF

    Though they are no longer in the same company, Cody Rhodes is keeping a close eye on the career of the AEW World Champion. During an interview with Peter Rosenburg, the American Nightmare was asked about MJF possibly joining WWE. 

    \”I think one day you will see MJF in WWE. I think, one thing I\’m really proud of him for is, for those who don\’t know, MJF was one of my recruits. Probably the one I\’m the most excited about just because [of] his potential, his personality; his overall professionalism is beaming. One thing I\’m proud of him doing is, if you notice he\’s put on a lot of muscle and he\’s put it on safely over the last year and a half. And when he does make that jump, and I don\’t know when that is, if he makes the jump. But if he comes to WWE he\’ll have to stand across from guys like Drew McIntyre, you have to stand across from guys like Omos. Or, gosh, Brock Lesnar.\”

    What\’s Next? 

    While MJF could one day be a WWE Superstar, it isn\’t likely to happen anytime soon. For all his teases of leaving, MJF reportedly signed a new AEW deal that will keep him around for years to come. One WWE source described MJF\’s potential bidding war as \”a completely in his head storyline.\” His next AEW World Championship defense will come on December 30, against Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. 

    Cody Rhodes is currently in the midst of a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura. Rhodes has announced himself for the Men\’s Royal Rumble match and hopes to become the fourth man to win back-to-back Royal Rumble matches. 

  • Cody Rhodes Could Be Looking to Revive His Father\’s Wrestling Promotion

    Cody Rhodes could be prepared to revive Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, the promotion founded by his father \’American Dream\’ Dusty Rhodes. 

    Recently, Rhodes and his Nightmare Factory partner QT Marshall filed a trademark for the term \’Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling\’ for entertainment services and merchandising. The filing specifically refers to \”wrestling contests\” and \”exhibits\” as applicable to the TCW term. 

    Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling

    Dusty Rhodes started making plans for TCW in 1999 and would establish offices in East Cobb County, Georgia. At the time, Rhodes described his idea for the new promotion as \”old school but with modern ideas.\” The first TCW event took place in July 2000 and saw Glacier win a tournament to become the first TCW Heavyweight Champion. 

    The following year, TCW would host its first pay-per-view, and would also begin airing on TV. In March of 2001, Scott \”The Clap\” Anton and \”The Extreme Dream\” Erik Watts became the first TCW Tag Team Champions defeating Glacier and Jorge Estrada.

    With the demise of WCW and ECW, TCW welcomed talent that the WWF did not pick up. In an August 2001 interview with Greg Oliver, Dustin Rhodes had high praise for TCW. 

    \”TCW is the alternative to the World Wrestling Federation. To me in my mind, my opinion, and my dad\’s opinion, we are the World Wrestling Federation\’s competition. We are not an independent, we are a company. We want to be treated as one.\”

    The original TCW saw several notable names compete, including Scott Hall, \’Hacksaw\’ Jim Duggan, New Jack, Leilani Kai, Daffney, and Steve Corino. Years before he\’d make it big as part of TNA Wrestling, James Storm would compete during the latter stages of the company. 

    The Nightmare Factory

    The Nightmare Factory is Rhodes and Marshall\’s training school based in Norcross, Georgia. Training seminars often feature notable names in professional wrestling, including Rhodes, Marshall, and Jerry Lynn. The Nightmare Factory is currently accepting applicants for their 2024 class. 

  • Grayson Waller Wants Feud with CM Punk: \”I\’m Not Here to be Your Fanboy!\”

    Grayson Waller is ready to test himself against former World Champion CM Punk, both in the ring and in a battle on the mic. 

    Punk appeared on last week\’s episode of SmackDown, in his first appearance on the blue brand in close to a decade. The former World Champion held nothing back in his promo and referenced Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, and teased a confrontation with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. CM Punk also gave a nod to his firing from AEW All In this past September.

    Grayson Waller on CM Punk

    CM Punk has had the wrestling world hooked on his every word and move, and Grayson Waller is also taking notice of the Best in the World. Speaking with Justin LaBar of Busted Open Radio, Waller was asked about the arrival of the ex-AEW star. 

    \”It\’s great to have Punk back because obviously he\’s a big name, he\’s a big star. I got to sit backstage at SmackDown last Friday and sit in the Gorilla position and watch him go out and talk. It\’s a different vibe. For me personally, I\’m not going to go and ask for advice and kiss his ar*e. That\’s not who I am. But I am going to sit back and watch him do it and I\’m going to take some notes in my head. That promo he did on Friday, especially hearing the live crowd and everything, was cool.\” 

    Waller added that he met with Punk at SmackDown and also saw the Best in the World backstage at this week\’s WWE NXT. 

    \”I saw Punk backstage at SmackDown Friday and I\’m going to leave it there. I don\’t think anyone needs to know what that interaction was. Let\’s just say, we talked.

    \”I was at NXT last night doing some stuff and he was there talking to all the young guys, giving them feedback, giving them advice. So he\’s coming back and he\’s doing everything he can to help. But Grayson Waller\’s not that guy. I don\’t wanna sit back and hear his advice. I don\’t want to wear his merch shirt. I don\’t want to put up a video of me at 12 years old telling Punk he\’s the best. That\’s not who I am.

    Like Punk, Waller has impressed many on the mic, and would love to test his skills against Punk when the time is right. 

    \”I want to test myself against him. Not just in the ring, but on the mic because that guy\’s one of the best of all time… So I appreciate what you\’ve done for the business, but I\’m not here to be your fanboy, I\’m here to be a competitor.\”

    More Backstage Talk

    While we don\’t know what Waller and Punk discussed, the Aussie wasn\’t the only one Punk chatted with backstage. It has been reported that Punk was approached about appearing at NXT Deadline while attending SmackDown. The former AEW World Champion (donned in a Bret Hart hoodie) shared a segment with Shawn Michaels during the opening moments of the show.

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

  • Lacey Evans Has No Regrets Having a Baby in WWE Run Shares Original Ric Flair Plans

    Macey Estrella does not regret taking time away from WWE to welcome another child into the world, the ex-Lacey Evans has revealed. 

    In early 2021, Estrella began an on-screen romance with Ric Flair, who betrayed his daughter Charlotte in the process. A month later however, Estrella would announce on TV that she was pregnant. Despite initial beliefs that this was an angle and Flair would be revealed as the father, Estrella later confirmed she was having an actual baby.

    Macey Estrella on Being a Mom

    This pregnancy would see Estrella become a mom of a baby girl for the second time in her life. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Estrella made it clear that parenthood has been important to her from a young age. 

    \”I\’ve always wanted to be a mom. Unlike a lot of women, I\’ve been with my husband since I was 15. We got married at 19. Since 16 years old, we\’ve been picking our our kids\’ names. We\’ve always wanted to be a mom and a dad.\”

    While Estrella wanted to have a second child, she realized during her career in WWE that she was spending all her time on her career, rather than her personal goal. 

    \”When I was in WWE… [I thought] Man, I\’m really giving my husband the s****y end of the stick here. He loves me and he supports me to the fullest but where are all of our babies at? Where is the sound of feet on our hardwood floors and the smell of bacon in the morning? Instead, we\’re on a plane at 3:30 in the morning heading out to, I just thought, man.\”

    Speaking with Vince McMahon

    With Estrella refusing to freeze her eggs, the ex-Superstar realized that her biological clock was ticking for a second child. Speaking on Insight, Estrella recalled going to see Vince McMahon about taking time off. 

    \”I went to Vince and I said \’Hey Sir, I\’m not being used and I want to have a baby.\’ I won\’t if you plan on using me. I\’ll stand by and it\’s Covid. I\’m not being used and it\’s Covid. He kind of got quiet and he says \’Go have a baby.\’ And I made sure because that man, that man is f***ing awesome. He has done a lot for me and my family. And I was just very thankful to be in that room having that discussion and having that opportunity.

    \”That was the game plan, I wasn\’t being used and next thing you know, Talent-Creative [say] \’Oh you\’re going to be with Ric Flair and Charlotte\’. And I\’m like what the f**k?… Well I\’ll be damned that the week before I\’m supposed to get the title, I have my baby. And it was the best feeling in the world. That my husband now has another child he\’s going to hold in his arms in nine months.\”

    Estrella would not win the Raw Women\’s Championship in early 2021 as planned, nor would she compete in a title match at that year\’s WrestleMania as initially envisioned. Even though she never got close to holding a title again, Evans is against the notion that her decision was a bad one. 

    \”A lot of people say I ruined my career and this and that. But this morning I woke up and saw that little s**t looking at me with a big smile on her face and my husband waking up. You can\’t tell me I ruined anything. I got exactly what I wanted.\”

    Estrella on Working with Ric Flair

    Estrella\’s pregnancy instantly ended her storyline with Ric Flair. On the show, the former Superstar explained what was supposed to come from her on-screen romance with the Nature Boy. 

    \”It was typical heel, to go after the title and get it. And I was supposed to get it.  But fortunately, Sunny Loretta decided that she was coming.\”

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

  • Lacey Evans: WWE Was Incredible But Never My Passion. I Don\’t Miss It At All

    Former WWE Superstar Macey Estrella is grateful for the opportunities WWE afforded her, but does not miss her time in the ring one bit. 

    Estrella competed for years in WWE as Lacey Evans across WWE NXT, Raw, and SmackDown. In August of this year, signs indicated that Evans was set to leave WWE, including her profile being moved to the alumni section of WWE\’s website. Evans would leave the promotion and despite the initial belief she had been released, it was confirmed that her contract had instead expired. 

    Macey Estrella Doesn\’t Miss WWE

    Estrella\’s contract expiring means that she did not have to face a 90-day non-compete clause and could have worked with any wrestling promotion after her WWE exit. Despite this, Estrella has not competed for or appeared for any other company. On the Insight podcast, Estrella explained why she is in no hurry to get back in the ring. 

    \”I have had a lot [of offers], obviously, reach out. But I did WWE for seven years, and it was never my passion. That was never a secret. It was incredible to see my fellow Sports Entertainers that that is their passion, but I just knew. I went out there and did the best that I could and did my job. But I always looked forward to coming home. My family traveled with me, everywhere I went for the most part. And that was a struggle, right? Because when I got signed with WWE I was a mom and I was a wife. I\’ve been with my husband since I was 15.

    \”It was an incredible opportunity but it was a lot for whenever you compare what your passion is and WWE is very, very difficult. You\’re on the road, well over 300 days a year. They want a lot from you. There was always something in the back of my head going \’What the f**k am I doing?\’\”

    These days, Estrella can be found running her own coffee shop, which she uses as the premises for several community outreach programs. In the interview, Estrella gave just an example of one of those programs. 

    \”Just last night, we did a big group, outreach, for Alcohol Anonymous but it\’s for the families that have family members that struggle with addiction or have lost their lives to overdose. The things that I get to do now and the difference I get to make to me, is so rewarding. Since August 16th [when she was released] I have not once questioned if I\’m doing the right thing or if I\’m happy.\”

    When asked if there\’s a part of her that misses WWE, Estrella made it clear she\’s finished with the promotion. 

    \”Do you want me to lie? No, there\’s not. Some people, they wake up and they put on six-inch stilettos and ten pounds of makeup and their extensions and they go walk the red carpet and they feel amazing. I\’m not those people. And it was very difficult for me to put on that front.\” 

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

  • Seth Rollins In Captain America, Superstar Swifties, Waller & Melo \’Reunite\’ & More

    Seth Rollins in Captain America: Brave New World

    Captain America: Brave New World will feature Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins and the film is going to be bigger than originally planned. Deadline reports that additional scenes have been filmed for the project, which is slated for a February 2025 release. Marvel has hired Michael Orton (no relation) to pen additional scenes and material. The film had been scheduled for a May 2024 release before it was pushed back due to the now-settled WGA strike. 

    John Cena\’s New Poster

    Speaking of movies, John Cena is set to appear in Argylle, a new spy thriller in which a fiction writer learns that the stories she writes are actually happening. On Twitter, Cena spoke about the project and shared the newest poster. 

    Which Superstars Are Swifties? 

    Taylor Swift may not be a WWE Superstar but it seems that the music sensation has been quite the talking point in wrestling as of late. Backstage at Monday Night Raw, Jackie Redmond wanted to learn which Superstars are \’Swifties.\’ Chelsea Green, Becky Lynch, The Miz, Nikki Cross, Dominik Mysterio, R-Truth, Cody Rhodes, Piper Niven all gave their favorite Taylor Swift songs, while Damian Priest and Nia Jax were annoyed to be asked. Jey Uso didn\’t give a track but said he finds the Cruel Summer artist \”beautiful.\”

    Grayson Waller \’Reunites\’ with Carmelo Hayes

    Carmelo Hayes is set to compete in the U.S. Championship Contenders Tournament and will face Grayson Waller in the first round. At a recent WWE photoshoot, Waller confronted Hayes and insinuated that Melo was the one to attack Trick Williams. 

  • Latest On Nick Hogan & Teddy Hart After Recent Arrests

    Nick \’Hogan\’ Bollea is due to be arraigned later this month following his arrest and DUI charge last month in Florida. 

    Nick, 33, was arrested on Saturday morning just before 4 am in Clearwater, Florida, where cops booked him on suspicion of driving under the influence. The report from law enforcement alleged that Hogan refused to submit to sobriety testing. Nick was returning home from a bikini contest at his father\’s restaurant where alcohol was involved. Nick Hogan will be arraigned for misdemeanor DUI on December 18 at 9 AM.

    Nick has had several run-ins with the law over the years. 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

    Latest on Teddy Hart

    Nick Hogan isn\’t the only name associated with wrestling to have recent trouble with the law. In July, Teddy Hart was arrested on charges of possession of MDMA (Ecstacy) and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, each of which are both third-degree felonies in Florida.

    Hart is slated for a court hearing this morning regarding his arrest. The \’Early Resolution\’ division that Hart is facing often deals with plea deals and attempts to prevent a case from going to a felony trial, so his situation may be resolved at this hearing. 

    Hart has had several issues with the law, some of which were documented in the Peacock reality series Dangerous Breed. The series looked at Hart\’s toxic relationship with women, one of which being Hart\’s ex Samantha Fiddler. Fiddler traveled overseas with Hart before he ditched her, reportedly taking her passport with him. To date, she has never been found or heard from and has been missing since 2016. 

  • TNA Wrestler Savannah Evans Recovering from Knee Surgery

    Savannah Evans is recovering from a recent knee surgery but is expected to return in time for IMPACT\’s move to TNA Wrestling next month. 

    The last time fans saw Evans in a TNA/IMPACT Wrestling ring, she was on the losing end of a tag-team match in September of this year. While Evans has continued to compete on the independent scene, it has been weeks since her most recent match. 

    Savannah Evans recently underwent knee surgery, PW Insider has confirmed. The procedure took place earlier this month and Evans has been dealing with bone spurs in his knee. The expectation is that Evans should be done recovering and rehabbing in time to return to the ring for the TNA Hard to Kill PPV next month in Las Vegas. The show will take place on January 13, from the Palms Casino Resort in Paradise, Nevada. 

    Savannah Evans in IMPACT Wrestling

    Evans made her IMPACT Wrestling debut in August 2021 and aligned herself with Tasha Steelz. Together, the pair challenged for the IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Championships but were unsuccessful. Evans\’ first win in IMPACT would be quite notable, as she\’d win a Monster\’s Ball match in the memory of Daffney, which involved Alisha Edwards, Jordynne Grace, and Kimber Lee.

    At Multiverse of Matches 2022, Evans and Steelz again challenged for the Knockout Tag Team Championships but were again unsuccessful. More recently, Evans has been teaming with Gisele Shaw and unsuccessfully challenged for the tag team titles at IMPACT Wrestling Victory Road.