SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • New AJ Lee Doc Coming to Pay-Per-View & On Demand This Month

    Fans will soon get an in-depth look at the formative years of AJ Lee as well as her former tag-team partner Brittney Savage. 

    Lee and Savage teamed together in Women Superstars Uncensored and would become the WSU Tag Team Champions in February 2009. The pair held the gold until Lee signed with WWE that same year.  

    Now, fans will get to learn more about the duo this month on pay-per-view and on-demand. Stonecutter Wrestling gave the following statement: 

    APRIL & BROOKE CARTER: THE AC EXPRESS! IN DECEMBER ON PAY-PER-VIEW AND ON DEMAND!

    You know them as AJ Lee and Brittney Savage. But before they were stars, they were a tag team without compare known as the AC Express. You’ve seen them in some of the biggest fights in some of the biggest venues and on prime-time TV. And now you can see these champions in the early fights that rocketed them into stardom!

    Every month you can see a new show focused on the early career of a current wrestling star, and you can order the shows on pay-per-view or on demand. In addition to APRIL & BROOKE CARTER: THE AC EXPRESS, be sure to check out JON MOXELY: THE SWITCHBLADE, still available on pay-per-view and on demand. Go online to your cable or satellite provider’s website to order on pay-per-view. Or check your on demand guide for available shows.

    While Lee became the bigger star of the pair, Savage did make one WWE appearance. Her sole outing on WWE TV saw Savage lose a squash match to Beth Phoenix on the November 6, 2009, episode of SmackDown. 

    AJ Lee: Back in the Ring? 

    With CM Punk\’s return to WWE, many are hopeful that AJ will soon be making a comeback alongside her husband. After Survivor Series: WarGames, AJ Lee\’s name trended online. Lee is said to be well-respected within WWE with several Superstars interested in facing her. 

  • \’Hangman\’ Page Put Through Windshield by Devil\’s Henchman in AEW Dynamite Cliffhanger

    Adam \’Hangman\’ Page has become the latest victim of The Devil and his henchman in an explosive cliffhanger to end this week\’s episode of AEW Dynamite. 

    During the September 27, episode of AEW Dynamite, a group of masked individuals attacked Jay White. The gang was led by someone wearing MJF\’s \’devil\’ mask, immediately pointing the finger of suspicion at the AEW World Champion. MJF has denied that he is the one behind these attacks and his allies in The Acclaimed have also been attacked. Last week, MJF was seen on the ground, seemingly after being attacked, though suspiciously, the attack was never shown. 

    \’Hangman\’ Page Attacked

    Moments before being \’attacked\’ last week, MJF accused \’Hangman\’ Page of being the one under the Devil mask. On this week\’s show, Samoa Joe also pointed the finger of suspicion at the Cowboy before Roderick Stong argued that MJF was the Devil. 

    At the end of the show, the Devil\’s henchmen attacked Page in the parking lot while the Devil was sat in a car. The masked person then nodded to his assistants, who proceeded to slam Page onto the glass windshield of the car. 

    Is the Windshield a Clue? 

    The use of the windshield may be a nod to the Devil being revealed as Jack Perry. The former Jungle Boy caused a stir at AEW All In during his match with Hook in which he made clear the windshield of his vehicle was real glass. Perry was suspended following his backstage altercation with CM Punk though his suspension reportedly ended over a month ago. 

    The Devil may be an anarchistic force, but he has his own AEW merch which has caught the attention of a WWE NXT Superstar. Click here to find out more. 

  • Latest on Ilja Dragunov After Injury Scare at WWE NXT Tapings

    Reigning WWE NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov was seemingly injured during the latest tapings of the gold brand but things aren\’t entirely what they seem.

    Dragunov is in his first reign as WWE NXT Champion and won the title from Carmelo Hayes at WWE NXT No Mercy in September. Since then, Dragunov has retained against Hayes, \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio, and Baron Corbin. He is also a former WWE NXT UK Champion. 

    Ilja Dragunov Injured? 

    With next week being so close to Christmas, the December 19, episode was filmed this week to give the roster and crew time off to be with their families. It has been reported that Dragunov worked against Ridge Holland for the taping and in photos that emerged online, it appeared the NXT Champion was seriously injured. 

    This injury couldn\’t come at a worse time for the Mad Dragon, who is set to defend the NXT Championship against Trick Williams at New Year\’s Evil. Dragunov was also caught up in the storyline with Carmelo Hayes and Lexis King this week, as to who attacked Williams weeks ago. Hayes accused Dragunov of attacking Trick and himself on this week\’s show. 

    Good News

    While the images of Dragunov look bad, there is some good news about this matter. In an update, it has been reported that this is part of a storyline. WWE are seemingly playing into the notion that Holland is dangerous in the ring, which some have accused him of ever since the unfortunate Big E incident in March of last year. Big E has said he holds no ill-will to Holland over what happened, as he knows that accidents happen. Some have been far less positive and Holland received death threats on the anniversary of Big E suffering a broken neck.  

  • AEW Winter is Coming Overrun, MJF & Cole Being Stripped of Titles?, Extra Seats & More

    AEW Dynamite Has Overrun

    Tonight\’s AEW Dynamite will see the show continue to build towards Worlds End, which is set to take place on December 30. Fans will get slightly more AEW action tonight than they previously expected. On Twitter, Tony Khan announced that TBS has granted an overrun of five minutes for tonight\’s show. 

    More Winter is Coming Seats

    Not only will tonight\’s show go longer than expected, but it will also have more fans in attendance than originally planned. Wrestle Tix reports that AEW has opened up two more sections of seats for tonight\’s Winter is Coming show. 

    The end of Better Than You Bay Bay? 

    MJF and Adam Cole captured the ROH World Tag Team Championships at All In but have only defended the titles one time together. That\’s because of an injury suffered by Cole that he is still dealing with. Speaking on a media call to promote Friday night’s ROH Final Battle 2023 pay-per-view event, Tony Khan said he\’s considered vacating the gold. 

    \”That’s definitely something to look at at some point [vacating the titles]. It’s something MJF said was important to him and Cole, was to try and maintain the belts to when Cole gets back. Obviously, it’s been a long road to recovery from a bad injury, but we’re all excited about having Adam Cole back.\”

    Matt Hardy\’s Frustrations

    Matt Hardy recently stirred up some controversy when speaking about his AEW direction. On his Extreme Life podcast, Hardy spoke about being frustrated in the promotion while Jeff said he sometimes feels like a ghost. On the latest edition of his show, Hardy gave further context and stated that his comments are \”1000%\” true to how he is feeling. 

  • Batista in Dune 2 Trailer, Cena\’s Proud of Zac Efron, Brandi Reacts to Raw & More

    Dave Batista in Dune: Part Two

    Dave Batista may have yet to become a WWE Hall of Famer, but the Animal continues to make an impact in Hollywood. In the latest trailer for Dune: Part Two, Batista can be seen reprising his role as Glossu Rabban. Dune: Part Two, the sequel to the 2021 sci-fi epic, will be released in cinemas on March 1. 

    John Cena Proud of Zac Efron

    This week saw the premiere of The Iron Claw, the new biopic about the lives, careers, and tragedies of the Von Erich family. John Cena was at the premiere and was spotted with AEW World Champion MJF. Taking to Twitter, Cena said he was proud of film lead Zac Efron for his role as Kevin Von Erich. The Iron Claw will be released on December 22. 

    Brandi Reacts to Raw

    In the main event of this week\’s Raw, Shinsuke Nakamura faced Cody Rhodes. Rhodes won by DQ after Nakamura sprayed the American Nightmare with the Asian Mist. Nakamura would also attack Rhodes after the match. On Twitter, Brandi Rhodes had some choice words for the King of Strong Style. 

    Chavo Guerrero Praises Dominik Mysterio

    \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio has impressed plenty of people since joining The Judgment Day at Clash at the Castle last year. Speaking on the Insight podcast, Chavo Guerrero shared his take on the self-professed ex-con. 

    \”Dominik Mysterio is killing it. He’s doing so good. He’s far beyond where he should be. As far as being good as well. It’s pretty cool to see them doing all this stuff.\”

    Mysterio will face CM Punk next week in the latter\’s first WWE match since January 2014. 

  • CM Punk Was Working Wrestling Shows Long Before He Learned How to Compete

    CM Punk\’s decision to learn how to wrestle only came after he\’d promoted and participated in multiple shows, Ace Steel has revealed. 

    Steel was the man who trained Punk and the pair have remained friends ever since. Steel was fired from AEW following the All Out 2022 backstage fight, only to be brought back to the company to coincide with Punk\’s return from his suspension. After Punk was fired from AEW, Steel was also let go. 

    Speaking on Wrestling with Rip Rogers, Steel recalled meeting Punk and how their friendship began. 

    \”The long and short is they were backyarders running a promotion in Chicago and he inevitably ended up being a promoter because he was the most responsible of everybody. So his name was on the promoter license for Chicago, Illinois and they would run Outlaw shows if you want to call it that. They were drawing 800 people or so and we\’re on the other side of town the legit wrestlers drawing f***ing 200. The real trained wrestlers were like \’Oh those guys are garbage and they\’re backyarders. They\’re only filling the crowd with their family\’. I\’m like \’800 family is coming to watch this? No, people are enjoying themselves.\’

    \”He came to us to get trained. He walked and said \’I need to actually [learn]. I really want to do this\’. And so we became fast friends we are uh you know I I I enjoy the vices of the world and he has never enjoyed the vices of the world you know uh but we were always fast friends.\”

    Ace Steel on CM Punk\’s Success

    From these humble starts, CM Punk has gone on to become one of the most internationally recognized wrestlers in a generation. When asked if he ever saw this level of success for Punk, Steel admitted that he couldn\’t have predicted how far his friend would go. 

    \”No [I didn\’t see him becoming as big a star as he has.] I don\’t think you can because, especially at our level and to think about it back then like I just made the statement that I never thought I\’d be in the WWF because I wasn\’t big enough. Because it was the land of giants. And he didn\’t– his body was pear-shaped at that point but to see him transform and the hard work he went through to transform his body. I remember a day the ring was down, we\’re like All right we\’re going to take everybody to the gym and show you guys how to work out. Obviously, some of you don\’t use weights but he was all about it. \’Let\’s f***ing go!\’\”

    While Steel didn\’t predict the success Punk has seen, he acknowledged that the former WWE & AEW World Champion has always been able to make a connection with fans. 

    \”His connection with the crowd though, undeniable. [He\’s] always had that, even when he was doing the backyard stuff. That was the thing, he just had that in his head. He knew how to work the people.\”

    CM Punk will have his first WWE match in close to a decade next week. Click here to find out more. 

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

  • CM Punk & Seth Rollins Drew Huge Numbers with WWE Raw Confrontation

    WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins & CM Punk proved to be quite the draw during this week\’s episode of Raw. 

    Since CM Punk\’s return, Rollins has made it clear he\’s not pleased to see the Best in the World back in WWE. Rollins\’ reasoning is that for all of Punk\’s talk about being \’home\’ the Chicago-Made wrestler had plenty of negative comments for WWE during his near-decade-long tenure away. 

    CM Punk and Seth Rollins Draw

    On this week\’s Raw, Punk and Rollins finally came face-to-face. Rollins warned Punk not to call WWE his home after spending 10 years trying to tear it down. Rollins also vowed to expose Punk as a fraud. 

    The segment between Punk and Rollins was by far the most-watched quarter-hour of this week\’s episode of Raw, Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics reports. While Raw averaged 1.47 million viewers, the segment had 1.88 million viewers. Similarly, the segment did a 0.62 in the coveted 18-49 demographic, much higher than the show\’s average of 0.46.

    What\’s Next for CM Punk? 

    CM Punk will make his return to the ring during the December 26, WWE live event in Madison Square Garden. In his first WWE match since January 2014, Punk will face \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio and will face Dominik again at an event on December 30. 

    On this week\’s Raw, Punk declared himself for the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match. Punk is considered a favorite to win the match as is the only other confirmed entrant: Cody Rhodes. 

    This segment saw a major change backstage compared to other Raw segments. Click here to find out more. 

  • The Rise & Fall of Hulk Hogan Documentary Coming to VICE TV

    Fans will soon get to see plenty of the highs and lows of the career of Hulk Hogan in a new series coming to VICE TV.

    Hogan\’s incredible and controversial career will be featured in the new VICE TV series Nine Lives Of… As the title suggests, the show goes into the controversies of celebrities and how they have been given multiple second chances. The episode about the two-time WWE Hall of Famer will premiere on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at 10 PM. 

    Hogan won\’t be the only massive name examined as part of Nine Lives Of… WWE celebrity Hall of Famer Arnold Schwarzenegger and the late Paul \’Pee Wee Herman\’ Ruebens will also be featured. Both made numerous appearances for WWE. Dave Chapelle, Howard Stern, Tiger Woods, and the animated series South Park are among those that will be covered. 

    Hulk Hogan: Controversy

    While Hulk Hogan is unquestionably one of the most significant names in professional wrestling, his legacy has been mired in controversy. The Hulkster has often faced accusations of politicking in wrestling to ensure he had the best spot, often at the expense of other wrestlers. 

    In 2015, a rant made by Hogan during a 2007 leaked sex tape went viral in which Hogan expressed his disapproval of his daughter dating a black man. In the leaked clip, Hogan uses the n-word and admits to being \”a racist, to a point.\” Hogan was quickly fired from WWE and removed from the Hall of Fame, with a statement from the company stating they are \”committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds.\” Hogan\’s lawyer would claim that he had chosen to resign from the company.

    Hogan would apologize multiple times over the years and would see some support from black athletes including The Rock, Booker T, Mark Henry, and Big E. In July 2018, Hogan was reinstated into the WWE Hall of Fame and has made appearances for WWE ever since. 

  • Creative Plans Are Being Pitched for Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler) in AEW

    Former WWE Superstar Nic Nemeth may be All-Elite soon enough if those working within AEW have their way. 

    Nemeth was released from WWE in September of this year, ending his nearly two-decade career with the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. Nemeth is best known for his time as Dolph Ziggler and is a two-time former World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWE NXT Champion. The Show-Off was arguably the biggest name cut from WWE during the September releases. 

    Nic Nemeth is All-Elite?

    Next week, Nemeth\’s 90-day non-compete clause will expire and he will be free to work and sign with any promotion that wants him. Sources in AEW who spoke to WrestlePurists have stated that there is a push within the promotion for Nemeth to be signed when the time is right. There have already been multiple creative pitches being drawn up for Nemeth. One idea would see the Show-Off paired with fellow WWE alum CJ Perry. Perry and Nemeth had an on-screen romance in 2015 during which Nemeth would feud with Perry\’s real-life husband Rusev (now AEW\’s Miro.)

    What\’s Next for Nic Nemeth?

    We don\’t know for certain if Nemeth will join AEW but the former WWE World Champion isn\’t struggling to find work outside of WWE. The former Ziggler has been announced for WWC\’s Euphoria show which will take place on January 20. Nemeth will compete against Ray González at the event. Nemeth will also be part of the MCW Fan Jam convention that is set to take place on February 4. Fellow WWE alum Matt Riddle has also been announced. 

  • CM Punk vs Dominik Mysterio Set for Holiday WWE Live Events

    Fans will see CM Punk compete in the ring later this month, in the Best in the World\’s first match in WWE since his return at Survivor Series. 

    The former AEW World Champion returned to WWE in the closing moments of WWE\’s most recent main roster PLE. 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. 

    CM Punk Back in Action

    On this week\’s Raw, CM Punk declared himself for the 2024 Men\’s Royal Rumble match, but he\’ll be back in the ring far sooner than that. 

    Punk has been announced for matches on two upcoming shows – CM Punk will face \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio at the December 26 event from Madison Square Garden and the December 30 event in Inglewood, California.

    These won\’t just be Punk\’s first WWE matches in close to a decade, but will also be Punk\’s first matches in months. The Best in the World\’s most recent match saw him retain the \’Real\’ World Championship against Samoa Joe at AEW All In. 

    WWE Live – December 30

    Punk\’s first WWE match in close to a decade will be just one part of a stacked show. Other matches confirmed for the night include: 

    • Seth Rollins (c) Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
    • IYO SKY (c) Bianca Belair Vs. Charlotte Flair (WWE Women\’s Championship. 

    Cody Rhodes was set to face \’Dirty Dom\’ in a Last Man Standing match at the event. It remains to be seen who Rhodes will face at the show with Dominik now facing CM Punk. 

    More information about the show can be found here. 

  • CM Punk is Ready to \’Take Over the World\’ Says Ex-UFC Champion

    CM Punk is once again a WWE Superstar and is ready to take over the world of wrestling once more, according to Anthony Pettis. 

    The former AEW World Champion returned to WWE at the Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 Premium Live 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. 

    CM Punk is Ready to Take Over the World

    CM Punk has made an impact since returning to WWE and fans can expect that the continue. Speaking with Sportskeeda, Anthony Pettis, a former UFC Lightweight Champion recalled meeting with Punk before Survivor Series and their interaction following the Best in the World\’s return. 

    \”I had CM Punk as a special guest on APFC, the weekend before they [WWE] announced his comeback. He didn\’t say nothing about it. So we were hanging out in APFC chilling. Nate Diaz was there, Frank Mir was there, Rampage Jackson was there, Yair Rodriguez, we had a squad in walk. You know this is a dope event. And he didn\’t say nothing about it bro.

    \”One of the most humblest guys you ever meet and one of the hardest-working guys you ever met. I was very excited for him. I text him right away and I think his response was \’Let\’s take over the world brother\’ and I\’m like \’Yeah let\’s go man!\’ It\’s awesome.\”

    What\’s Next for CM Punk? 

    Punk\’s intentions to \’take over\’ will seemingly result in the Chicago-Made star facing Seth Rollins. The reigning WWE World Heavyweight Champion has made his issues clear with Punk\’s return following the hostile comments Punk had for WWE during his nine-year absence. On this week\’s Raw, Punk exclusively signed with the red brand and announced his participation in next month\’s Men\’s Royal Rumble match. 

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

  • Jake Paul: Logan Has Mastered the \’New Way\’ of the Entertainment Industry

    Jake Paul believes that he and his brother Logan have been able to \’master\’ the newest form of entertainment that sees plenty of crossovers. 

    Logan Paul signed with WWE in 2022 and has impressed fans with his skills in the ring. In addition to competing for WWE, Paul has also competed in boxing, and has his own brand of energy drinks \’PRIME Energy.\’ In addition to all of this, Paul continues to vlog and has millions of followers across his social media accounts. 

    \”That\’s the new way of the entertainment industry. It\’s doing it all, you have to do it all. You have to be in all the places and all the businesses, marketing yourself, staying busy, creating companies and that\’s I think what me and my brother have proven and shown. It\’s being multifaceted and being different. People want to see something they\’ve never seen before and I think we\’ve mastered that.\”

    Jake Paul in WWE?

    Logan Paul may be WWE\’s reigning U.S. Champion, but his brother isn\’t against challenging the Maverick. During the interview, Jake was asked about possibly facing his brother in the ring and said: 

    \”Yeah, I\’m down. Let\’s run it, Logan. Let\’s run it.\”

    Jake hasn\’t competed for WWE yet but appeared in support of his brother at WWE Crown Jewel 2022. Logan Paul\’s first defense as U.S. Champion will see him face the winner of an ongoing tournament on SmackDown. 

    Is Logan Paul the greatest WWE United States Champion that we\’ve seen in years? Yes according to one Superstar. Click here to find out more. 

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

  • Iron Claw Coordinator Chavo Guerrero Calls Film A \”Service\” to Legendary Von Erichs

    Chavo Guerrero has praised the efforts of the upcoming The Iron Claw as a service to the legendary Von Erich family. 

    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.

    Chavo Guerrero on The Iron Claw

    Chavo Guerrero is, like so many, excited to see The Iron Claw in cinemas later this month. The ex-Superstar is tied to the film as the official wrestling coordinator and has worked with the cast to create an accurate and compelling performance. Appearing on the Insight podcast, Guerrero spoke about the film and how it effectively represents the Von Erichs. 

    \”It\’s doing one of the most influential families a service. It\’s portraying their story and not making it a martyr film… They\’re actually making this movie, a really true awesome movie. It\’s not a wrestling movie. It\’s about a family who happens to be wrestlers.\”

    Working with the Cast

    Guerrero\’s role as the film\’s wrestling coordinator is the latest big project that the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion has been tied to. On the podcast, Guerrero spoke about the connections he was able to make with the cast of The Iron Claw. 

    \”I\’ve created a bond. Wrestling creates a bond with people. Being on the road and traveling, being in the trenches with other wrestlers of course but also when I\’m training actors, there\’s this trust we have to build with each other.\”

    You squish in as much as you can, whatever they can absorb. Every actor is different. Zac [Efron] was able to absorb a lot so we kind of sped him through it but I threw a lot at him. When you\’re creating a scene, there are a lot of things you have to take into consideration. We have to take in the script, what the director wants, how the DP [Director of Photography] wants to shoot it. But also what your actors can and can\’t perform. So you have to work within the parameters.

    \”Once I can get them to give me trust and just know that I\’m never going to put them in harm\’s way. Safety is the number one port of order for me. Of course we\’ve got to get the shot I have an actor to protect. So the number one thing is safety and I won\’t let them do anything that I\’m sure they can\’t repeat a hundred times. It\’s one of those things. You know there are fluke accidents and freak accidents that happen.\”

    Guerrero added that in a way, the actors of the film already know some of the fundamentals of wrestling, even if they don\’t know that they know. 

    \”I explain to my actors, the same thing with my GLOW girls, everybody on that awesome Netflix show. I explain to them, \’Y\’all know how to wrestle. You just don\’t know you know yet.\’ They\’re like \’What do you mean?\’ So I portray it to acting a lot. What do you do in acting? You\’re convincing the studios that you\’re better looking than you are, you\’re a better actor than you are, you\’re taller than you are. You\’re much more handsome or much more beautiful than you are actually are.

    \”That\’s what I\’ve been doing in wrestling for the last 25 years. People, every time they see me they go \’Gosh you\’re a lot bigger.\’ Yeah, because I portray myself a lot bigger.\”

    MJF has a role in The Iron Claw but his role was originally much bigger than what made the final cut. Click here to find out more. 

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

  • Braun Strowman Hungry for A Rematch with \”Arch Nemesis\” Roman Reigns

    WWE SmackDown Superstar Braun Strowman is ready to step back in the ring with Roman Reigns, deeming the Tribal Chief his arch-nemesis. 

    The Monster Among Men returned to WWE last September after being released in late 2021. Strowman has spent much of his time on the shelf though and is currently recovering from neck fusion surgery. Speaking to Wrestle Binge, Strowman was asked about who\’s next for him once he is back and made it clear he wants another shot against the Head of the Table. 

    \”I\’m never finished with Roman Reigns. He is my arch nemesis and my greatest rivalry of my career, and hopefully one of these days I\’ll get back in there and get these hands on The Tribal Chief.\” 

    Braun Strowman Vs. Roman Reigns

    Strowman and Reigns have shared the ring a total of 21 times (not including performances in Royal Rumble matches.) The pair first collided at WWE Night of Champions 2015 and saw Strowman, Bray Wyatt, and Luke Harper defeat Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Chris Jericho. 

    Strowman and Reigns would feud in 2017 and would collide over the Universal Championship in late 2018. Years later, Strowman would take the pinfall loss at Payback 2020, which saw the start of Reigns\’ historic tenure as WWE Universal Champion. Strowman and Reigns last competed on the October 16, 2020, episode of SmackDown, which saw the Tribal Chief get the win. 

    Braun Strowman won\’t rule out a return to WWE programming for a massive upcoming event. Click here to find out more. 

    H/T – Wrestling Inc

  • MJF Meets John Cena & Other WWE Names at The Iron Claw Premiere

    The stars were out for the premiere of The Iron Claw, with AEW World Champion MJF being joined by names from WWE. 

    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.

    WWE & AEW Collide on the Red Carpet

    MJF plays Lance Von Erich in the new film, a kayfabe relation of the family who doesn\’t mesh well with the actual Von Erich wrestlers. MJF also serves as an executive producer for the film so it was hardly a surprise to see him walk the red carpet for the premiere. What may have surprised fans though is that MJF was joined by some of WWE\’s top names, including 16-time WWE World Champion John Cena. 

    Cena wasn\’t the only notable name to meet up with MJF at the premiere. The reigning AEW World Champion could also be seen with NXT Superstar Baron Corbin. 

    Liv Morgan was also at last night\’s premiere of The Iron Claw. Morgan is currently out of action with an injury and attended a party with MJF last October. 

    MJF in the Iron Claw

    John Cena may have made \’You Can\’t See Me\’ his catcphrase, but wrestling fans may struggle to see MJF in The Iron Claw. The reigning AEW World Champion appears for a few seconds in one scene and has no lines in the film. MJF originally had a much bigger role in the film before edits were made. 

  • Attorney Stephen New On Representing Ace Steel Following All Out Brawl

    Stephen P New, the attorney for Ace Steel, has agreed with the ex-AEW producer\’s stance that the line a colleague can often become part of a \’family\’. 

    Steel was on CM Punk\’s side during the infamous All Out 2022 backstage fight, and was fired from AEW following an investigation. Steel was rehired by AEW to work with Punk for AEW Collision but on the proviso that Steel worked remotely and away from AEW events. After Punk\’s contract was terminated following the backstage fight at AEW All In 2023, Steel was let go by the promotion. 

    Stephen P. New on Ace Steel

    In a recent interview, Ace Steel said that Punk is like family to him, and mentioned Stephen P. New as his attorney following the incident in September 2022. Taking to Twitter/X, New confirmed that he did indeed represent Steel following the All Out brawl and vouched for Steel as someone he could believe in. 

    In addition to Ace Steel, New is arguably best known for being the legal counsel to wrestling personality Jim Cornette throughout the years. He has also represented the Rock \’N\’ Roll Express and the Midnight Express over trademark issues in the past. 

    What\’s Next for CM Punk?

    CM Punk has since returned to WWE, close to a decade after his exit following the 2014 Royal Rumble. Punk will have to remain on his best behavior with reports that there is a \’behavioral clause\’ as part of his contract. So far, all reports about Punk\’s conduct backstage since returning to WWE have been positive. 

  • Bryan Danielson on AEW Authority Role, Latest on Rebel, Kyle O\’Reilly Update & More

    Bryan Danielson On His AEW Authority Role

    Bryan Danielson has been tasked with ensuring rules are followed within AEW, but this new responsibility doesn\’t come with a bigger paycheck. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Danielson addressed her new role.

    \”It’s not something I get paid for. I’m just like the other wrestlers in the sense of I don’t have a contract outside of being a wrestler contract. But I was honored to take on more when they asked me to take on more roles backstage.\”

    Latest on Rebel\’s status in AEW

    The last time Rebel competed for AEW was in August of last year, and after Britt Baker turned face earlier this year, fans have seen nothing from the Dentist\’s former ally. Fightful Select reports that Rebel remains under contract, and there has been talks of her being brought back to TV. With that said, there aren\’t any working plans for her to wrestle. 

    Kyle O\’Reilly Gives An Update

    It\’s been over a year since Kyle O\’Reilly last competed for AEW as he continues to recover from neck fusion surgery. After previously losing all feeling in his arm, O\’Reilly took to social media this week to share his progress. 

    https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C0sXoJYs66y

    Samoa Joe Returns as Sweet Tooth

    Samoa Joe will return as franchise mascot Sweet Tooth in the second season of Peacock\’s Heavy Metal series. The show is based on the hit vehicular combat series. In a trailer announcing the second season, Joe was featured and the AEW star reacted to the news with a single emoji. 

  • Madi Wrenkowski Vacates Indie Title Amid WWE Rumors

    Madi Wrenkowski is no longer one-half of the Mission Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions, in possibly a sign of bigger things to come. 

    Wrenkowski vacated the title at the recent MPW Silver Bells 3 event which took place at the Salvation Army Mission Corps in San Antonio, Texas. Wrenkowski said that she was \”moving onto bigger and better things\” hence her decision to voluntarily give up the gold. It is unclear what this decision means for her tag team partner Rache Chanel. 

    Heading to WWE? 

    In September, Wrenkowski was part of a WWE tryout that included Richard Holliday and \”HollyHood\” Haley J. Not long after, it was reported that she had signed with WWE but later confirmed that a deal had not been reached at that time. 

    Wrenkowski vacating the MPW Tag Team Championships will no doubt lead to speculation that she has finally reached a deal with WWE. A report from late November stated that a deal had not been reached, but things may have changed since then. 

    Madi Wrenkowski in the Ring

    Wrenkowski had held the MPW Tag Team Championships with Chanel since May of 2022, with their reign being the longest in the short history of the promotion. Wrenkowski was also NWA Women\’s Tag Team Champion from February to August of this year and held the titles with Missa Kate. The pair lost the titles at the NWA 75th Anniversary show on August 27 in St. Louis, MO.

    Wrenkowski has also competed on AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation, where she was often used as an enhancement talent. 

  • Carmelo Hayes Set For US Title Tournament On WWE SmackDown

    Carmelo Hayes will represent WWE NXT in the ongoing United States Championship contenders tournament, it has been confirmed. 

    Earlier this month, United States Champion Logan Paul announced an eight-man tournament to determine his first challenger. In his announcement, the Maverick said that he\’d love to offer Rey Mysterio a rematch, but can\’t due to the WWE Hall of Famer\’s injury. Paul captured the title from Mysterio at WWE Crown Jewel in his first taste of gold since signing with WWE. 

    Shawn Michaels says there was a line of NXT stars outside his door wanting to be part of the US Championship Contenders Tournament, but in his view, nobody deserves the spot more than Carmelo Hayes.

    Melo had previously teased being a part of the tournament and has been universally praised for his work in NXT. He\’s viewed as having breakout potential as much as anybody in developmental and will be right at home amongst SmackDown\’s most talented stars:

    Carmelo Hayes Road to SmackDown

    With the tournament brackets being revealed last week, it is clear what path Hayes has toward the United States Championship. Hayes will face Grayson Waller in the first round, somebody whom Hayes has experience competing against in NXT. Should he win, Melo will face the winner of the Austin Theory Vs. Kevin Owens quarter-final match. If Hayes wins that bout, he will face either Bobby Lashley or Santos Escobar in the finals. 

    While not confirmed, many expect the title match to take place at the Royal Rumble next year. The WWE Royal Rumble will take place on January 27, from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

    Hayes recently called out All Elite Wrestling for merchandise he sees as very similar to his \”Melo is Him\” catchphrase:

  • Original Plans for MJF in The Iron Claw Before Role Was Significantly Cut

    MJF had a much bigger role in the upcoming A24 biopic \’The Iron Claw\’ before his scenes were almost entirely cut from the final edit. 

    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.

    MJF\’s Role in The Iron Claw

    AEW World Champion MJF plays Lance Von Erich in The Iron Claw, a kayfabe relation of the famed wrestling family. While much has been said about his role, MJF reportedly only appears for a handful of seconds, has no lines, and will go unnoticed if you\’re not actively looking for him. 

    MJF\’s role in The Iron Claw may not be the leading role some had hoped for, but he originally had a much bigger role. Mike Johnson of PW Insider reports that in an earlier draft, MJF had three scenes as Lance Von Erich. The first sees Lance being introduced by Fritz as the newest family member, with Kevin Von Erich being unhappy with the idea of a fake family member. Kevin ultimately does what his father wants. 

    The second scene sees Lance training with his \’brothers\’ in the ring, and it is clear that the fake Von Erich is not in sync with the others. The third scene sees Lance demand more money from Fritz, who tells him no and fires him. 

    The Iron Claw isn\’t MJF\’s on ly film role. Click here to find out about the AEW star\’s dive into the world of DC Comics. 

  • Logan Paul: \’I\’m the Greatest WWE U.S. Champion in Years\’

    Logan Paul is well on his way to becoming the greatest U.S. Champion of all time, at least according to the Maverick himself. 

    At WWE Crown Jewel, Paul captured the United States Championship from Rey Mysterio in a match that marked the first time a U.S. title reign had begun & ended outside the United States. Taking to Twitter this week, Paul confirmed that he will be part of next February\’s Premium Live Event in Australia.

    Logan Paul on his U.S. Championship Reign

    Logan Paul has only been WWE\’s U.S. Champion for five weeks, but he already believes his reign is the best title reign we\’ve seen in a very long time. Speaking on Jazzy\’s World, Paul spoke about his WWE career and had a high opinion of his United States Championship reign thus far. 

    “I think it’s fun for me people seem to enjoy it and truthfully Jazzy I think at age 27 I found my calling. I gotta say I’m good at it. Jazzy you’re looking at the US champ, the best WWE has seen in a while so I’m gonna be at it for a minute.”

    What\’s Next? 

    Logan Paul has yet to defend the United States Champion but he will soon learn who\’ll he step into the ring with next. Paul\’s first challenger will be decided in an ongoing eight-man tournament featuring seven SmackDown Superstars and one mystery name from WWE NXT. So far, Santos Escobar and Bobby Lashley have advanced to the second round. While not confirmed, many expect the title match to take place at the Royal Rumble next year. The WWE Royal Rumble will take place on January 27, from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

    Paul has already confirmed his role at a major WWE event that will take place this year. Click here to find out more.  

    H/T – Fightful

  • Baron Corbin Hangs With Taylor Swift at Kansas City Chiefs NFL Game

    Baron Corbin didn\’t leave WWE NXT Deadline as the new NXT Champion, but the Lone Wolf is looking to \’Shake it Off\’ with Taylor Swift. 

    The pop sensation continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the music scene and has been spotted in recent months supporting her boyfriend Kansas City Chief Travis Kelce. During the Chiefs\’ most recent game, Corbin was part of a selfie that included Swift. 

    Taylor Swift & Pro-Wrestling

    While Taylor Swift has yet to step foot in the ring, the music icon has had her name tied to wrestling over the years. In 2014, Swift was one of several celebrities to wish those who serve the best via a video message during that year\’s Tribute to the Troops. More recently, Grayson Waller has found himself feuding with Swift\’s fans after rating the Grammy Award-winner a \”six.\” Waller has even dared Travis Kelce to defend Swift\’s honor at WrestleMania 40. 

    During the post-Fastlane press conference, WWE Women\’s Champion IYO SKY was asked about Swift in a question that divided fans. While many saw it as a harmless bit of fun, some took issue with this question and SKY was visibly confused as to why she was being asked about a non-wrestler. 

    It\’s not just WWE that has its eye on Taylor Swift. Recently, Tony Khan revealed that Wembley asked him to have a quick set-up for All In 2024 in order to allow more dates for Taylor Swift\’s tour. When AEW\’s Claudio Castagnoli was asked about Swift possibly appearing at the August 2024 event, the Swiss wrestler said \”I wouldn\’t put it past her!\” 

    AEW already has an \’in\’ with Taylor Swift in the form of their Director of Business Development Jeff Jarrett. In interviews, Jeff has revealed that Swift used to babysit his kids and has often said that Swift was a kind, genuine person to the Jarrett family. 

  • Yeet is Back: Jey Uso Confirms Return of Catchphrase at WWE Live Event

    Jey Uso is free to Yeet once again, as WWE has seemingly secured the rights to use the term for merchandise. 

    Following Jey\’s infamous appearance on the Fastlane post-show press conference, Yeet has been synonymous with the Monday Night Raw Superstar. Yeet has been a popular chant with fans and even made it onto merchandise for Main Event Jey. 

    The Return of Yeet

    Earlier this week, it was reported that WWE had abandoned usage of Yeet, as the term had been trademarked in 2021 by Kasey Huffman, an independent wrestler based in West Virginia. WWE event went as far as to blur the term in video packages featuring Jey. While WWE had abandoned Yeet, it was noted that WWE had not given up on the term and that their legal team was working on things. 

    When Jey recently Yeet-ed on Twitter, speculation grew that perhaps some sort of deal had been struck to allow Yeet back in WWE. At a recent live event in Utica, New York, Jey was once again donned in a Yeet shirt and made it clear on social media that Yeet is back. 

    While Jey has his catchphrase back, it wasn\’t enough to secure him the win. At the Utica event, Drew McIntyre defeated his rival after a low-blow and a pinfall. This event also saw Seth Rollins have some choice words for fans chanting for CM Punk. 

    Who does Jey Uso think could be the one to dethrone Roman Reigns and replace him as Tribal Chief? Click here to find out. 

  • Seth Rollins Shuts Down CM Punk Chants At WWE Live Event: \”Who\’s That?\”

    WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth \’Freakin\’ Rollins has made it clear who the best in the world is, and it isn\’t CM Punk. 

    Although many have been pleased to see Punk back in WWE, Seth Rollins is not among them. Rollins had an explosive reaction to Punk\’s return at Survivor Series, and has made it clear on WWE programming that he takes issue with Punk\’s comeback. This week, Rollins explained his beef with Punk, citing the many negative comments Punk made about Seth and WWE during his near-decade-long absence. 

    Seth Rollins Shuts Down CM Punk Chant

    Despite Rollin\’s points about Punk, fans have gravitated to the Chicago-Made wrestler. At last night\’s WWE live event in Utica, New York, Rollins had some comments for the fans who were chanting Punk\’s name. 

    \”Excuse me, who\’s that? Who\’s that? Serious question, was that guy on the show here tonight? Yeah, no. Hey, maybe, one of these days he\’ll grow a set and he\’ll come up here to Utica, New York. And look, he\’s the best in the world, right? In all seriousness, *raises World Heavyweight Championship* I\’m the friggin\’ best in the world. Because every single town, every single night, no matter the opponent, I show up and I show out!\”

    https://twitter.com/marcusrdrgzz/status/1733689631084888449

    Punk and Rollins are expected to feud in due time, with some pointing at a possible collision at WrestleMania 40. WWE also has plans for Punk to feud with Roman Reigns and some in WWE are optimistic that a match between Punk and \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin could happen. 

    CM Punk made a cheeky reference to his AEW firing on this week\’s SmackDown. Click here to find out more. 

  • Dragon Lee Vows to Be a Fighting Champion, AEW Stars React to Title Win

    Dragon Lee will be a fighting champion now that he holds the NXT North American Title, and his win has caught the attention of some stars outside of WWE. 

    Lee captured the title from \’Dirty\’ Dominik Mysterio at the final NXT PLE of 2023 after being a last-minute addition to the show. Mysterio was originally set to defend the North American Title against Wes Lee until a severe back injury made this match impossible. 

    Dragon Lee on his Title Win

    This victory marks Lee\’s first taste of WWE gold since joining the promotion in late 2022. Speaking in an NXT Digital Exclusive, the new champion was asked how he feels. 

    \”How do I feel? I feel very happy. You know, I don\’t even know if I can find the exact words to explain to you how I feel. Me siento como un campeón (I feel like a champion.) I\’m ready for the next challenge. Whoever [is next, I\’m ready].\”

    Lee was also asked about Rey Mysterio, who announced the match during the go-home WWE NXT before Deadline. 

    \”Rey Mysterio supports me. That means the world. That means a lot. My superhero… Thank you Rey, this is for all my people.\”

     AEW Stars React

    Dragon Lee is the new NXT North American Champion but he isn\’t the only member of his family to wrestle. On Twitter, AEW\’s Rush made it clear that he is immensely proud of his brother. 

    Dralistico, also a brother to Dragon Lee who was recently made All Elite, also reacted to the title change. 

    \”Congratulations brother @dragonlee95 You deserve it, that and much more. I\’m proud of you.\”

    Dragon Lee is very happy to be the new NXT North American Champion, but Dominik Mysterio isn\’t happy. Click here to check out the ex-Champion\’s reaction.