SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Madusa on Mercedes Moné: Hopefully She Goes Back to WWE if She Wants To

    Could IWGP Women\’s Champion Mercedes Moné one day make her return to WWE?

    After she (and Naomi) walked out of the May 16, 2022, episode of Monday Night Raw, questions circulated around Moné\’s future with the company, and she went unused for months.

    Despite reports that she and Naomi had made peace with WWE, Moné would debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 17 this past January.

    The Return?

    It was last month that Moné captured the IWGP Women\’s Championship from KAIRI in the former\’s first match since departing WWE.

    Like Moné, Alundra \’Madusa\’ Blayze knows what it is like to draw the ire of WWE, as she was blacklisted for two decades for throwing the WWF Women\’s Championship in the trash on WCW programming.

    Appearing on Under The Ring to talk about her career and her new book \”The Woman Who Would Be King: The MADUSA Story,\” Blayze spoke about Moné\’s future.

    \”I think Mercedes has actually during a time when she was still champion, I believe tag team championship, whatever she was feeling, she felt like whatever and she handed the titles in and she walked out because she wanted to fulfill something, her dream, something she always wanted to do. I mean, God bless her on that, you know, somebody following what they want to do.\”

    \”Hopefully, she will go back to WWE someday if she wants to.\”

    Alundra Blayze.

    \”Hopefully, she will go back to WWE someday if she wants to. Right now she’s just fulfilling it. Let’s hope and continue that everything is great over there with her and Stardom. Maybe she’s paving the way that women can do what they want to do. I may have waited until my contract expired and then did it, but you know, everyone has their own reason and choice and I don’t know what that was, so I can’t say on hers.”

    Could A Return Happen?

    While Moné is out of WWE right now, that doesn\’t mean we may not see Sasha Banks walk down the aisle once more.

    After all, Blayze was blacklisted for twenty years but was eventually brought back, and other names fans thought they\’d never see again (Bret Hart, Ultimate Warrior, etc.) have returned over the years.

    It has been reported that some in WWE believe that once Moné gets NJPW \’out of her system\’ she will return to the Stamford-based promotion.

    Mercedes Moné Vows To Make IWGP Women’s Championship A ‘Global’ Title

    h/t – Wrestling News

  • Ric Flair to Announce Next 2023 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee This Week

    Fans won\’t have to wait long to find out the next inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2023.

    Unlike previous years, WWE has left announcing inductees incredibly late, as typically, most if not all inductees would have been announced by now.

    Last Friday, WWE confirmed that three-time former World Champion Rey Mysterio will be inducted this year.

    Ric Flair

    Ric Flair is no stranger to the WWE Hall of Fame, as he was inducted in 2008 (marking the first time an active Superstar had been inducted.)

    Four years later, Flair was inducted again as part of the Four Horsemen, making him the first two-time WWE Hall of Famer.

    On Twitter, WWE announced that Flair will appear on this week\’s The Bump to announce the next inductee into the Hall of Fame.

    Who\’s Going In?

    We\’ll have to wait until Wednesday to know who Flair will be inducting, but there are some names fans are expecting.

    One person many are predicting is Flair\’s Evolution comrade Dave Batista, who withdrew from the 2020 Hall of Fame class three years ago.

    Another name Flair could announce is Japanese wrestling legend The Great Muta, who is expected to be inducted into this year\’s class.

    Flair and Muta worked together in WCW and at WCW/NJPW inter-promotional events.

    Earlier this week, it was reported that Stacy Kiebler is expected to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2023.

    Hulk Hogan Calls for Next WWE Hall of Fame Inductees After Rey Mysterio’s Induction

  • Multiple Independent Wrestlers Involved in Serious Car Accident

    Four wrestlers from the independent scene are lucky to be alive after being involved in a very serious car accident.

    On Twitter, the Absolute Intense Wrestling account shared a photo of the wrecked vehicle, and said that Dominic Garrini, Joshua Bishop, Derek Dillinger, and Marino Tenaglia were involved.

    Thankfully, the AIW account informed fans that it appears that everyone who was in the car at the time of the accident is going to be okay.

    Garrini has competed in promotions including EVOLVE, MLW, and Chikara, and made an appearance for AEW in February of last year.

    On the February 16, 2022, taping of AEW Dark: Elevation, Garrini was on the losing end of a ten-man tag team match.

    Bishop is also a regular in multiple promotions, and in addition to being the reigning AIW Absolute Champion, holds the BLP Midwest Championship.

    Dillinger has dominated AIW for months as the AIW Intense Champion, with his most recent title defense coming at AIW: This Aggression Will Not Stand Man last month.

    Next month will mark six years since Tenaglia made his wrestling debut, and has been a regular in Absolute Intense Wrestling throughout his career.

    We here at SEScoops would like to extend our best wishes to Dominic Garrini, Joshua Bishop, Derek Dillinger, and Marino Tenaglia at this unfortunate time.

  • Former WWE Champion Teases Headlining WrestleMania 39: Night One

    Which match will close out WrestleMania 39: Night One on Saturday, April 1?

    With the star power in the match between Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes, it has long been accepted that this match will headline Night Two.

    WWE is yet to confirm the main event for either night, or whether any match will be on Saturday or Sunday.

    Intercontinental Main Event

    WWE SmackDown Superstar Sheamus has never closed out a WrestleMania, but he plans on changing that in a matter of weeks.

    Sheamus will face friend and longtime rival Drew McIntyre this Friday, with the winner facing Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER at WrestleMania 39.

    Taking to Twitter to promote the St. Patrick\’s Day clash, Sheamus said that his victory would mean he headlines WrestleMania 39: Night One.

    The Sheamus-McIntyre match was formed last week, after both men scored a pinfall during a five-way to determine GUNTHER\’s opponent.

    It has been reported that WWE\’s plan is for a triple-threat match for the title at WrestleMania 39.

    The Intercontinental Championship has headlined one WrestleMania, that being WrestleMania 6 when Champion the Ultimate Warrior faced WWF Champion Hulk Hogan in a title-for-title match.

    Other Night One Contenders

    Sheamus Vs. McIntyre Vs. GUNTHER would be a physical main event to WrestleMania 39: Night One, but it isn\’t the only option.

    It has been reported that WWE is considering SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair Vs. Rhea Ripley as the closer for the show.

    Some have argued that given his popularity, Sami Zayn should headline Night One in the rumored tag match with Kevin Owens against Undisputed WWE Tag Champions The Usos.

    Sheamus Reveals Storyline That Helped Reignite His Passion For Wrestling

  • AAA Trios Champion El Cuatrero Arrested Over Attempted Femicide

    AAA wrestler El Cuatrero\’s wrestling future looks uncertain after being arrested over attempted femicide.

    It was reported earlier this month that CMLL star Stephanie Vaquer had accused the AAA Trios Champion of gender violence.

    In an update, it is revealed that Cuatrero has been arrested for attempted femicide (the killing of a female based on their gender) and it is claimed he tried to strangle Vaquer.

    The report adds that Cuatrero is currently in Reclusorio Oriente.

    El Cuatrero, alongside Forastero and Sansón are currently in their first reign as AAA World Trios Champions, after winning the titles at Verano de Escándalo in August of last year.

    There has been no confirmation yet as to what AAA will do with their reigning Trios Champions, who surpassed 200 days with the gold last month.

    El Cuatrero

    Cuatrero comes from a large wrestling family, as the son of lucha libre legend Cien Caras and the nephew of Máscara Año 2000 and Universo 2000.

    Like many luchadors, his real name is not a matter of public record, but El Cuatrero translates from Spanish as \’The Horsethief\’ or \’The Cattle Rustler.\’

    El Cuatrero remains undisputed in Luchas de Apuestas, winning the masks of Los Centellas, and later of Ángel de Oro in March 2018.

    He is best known for his tenure in CMLL, where he is a former World Trios Champion (again with Forastero and Sansón.)

    Cuatrero is also a former CMLL World Middleweight Champion, and CMLL Arena Coliseo Tag Team Champion (with Sansón.)

  • Jake Roberts Claims AEW Faction is \”Without a Doubt\” Better than The Bloodline

    The Bloodline may be one of WWE\’s most popular acts in years, but they apparently cannot hold a candle to The Elite.

    Following Roman Reigns\’ heel turn in 2020, his cousins The Usos would fall in line behind their Tribal Chief, who has been advised by his special counsel Paul Heyman.

    Last September, Solo Sikoa was added to the faction by helping Reigns retain the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle.

    Without a Doubt

    The Bloodline storyline, especially the chapter with Sami Zayn, has been heralded as one of the best thing wrestling fans have seen in years, but they are not the only faction around.

    Last November, the Elite made their AEW return at Full Gear, after being suspended for their roles in the backstage fight following All Out.

    Speaking on the Cafe de Rene podcast, Jake Roberts was asked which group he thinks is better.

    \”Kenny. Kenny and The Bucks without a doubt. I think Kenny Omega is f***ing unbelievable. He is f***ing on spot. I don\’t like a lot of stuff The Young Bucks do but brother they\’re doing it and getting away with it.\”

    At AEW Revolution 2023, the Elite lost the AEW Trios Championships to the House of Black.

    The Elite Vs. The Bloodline?

    At this time, the idea of a six-man-tag match between the two factions is purely hypothetical, but that is something WWE hopes to change.

    In February, it was reported that WWE was expected to pursue multiple top-level AEW talent, including Omega.

    The belief is that if they can sign Omega (who has previously been under a WWE developmental deal) then it may encourage the Bucks to jump ship to WWE.

    Jake Roberts Reflects On New Role In AEW

    h/t – Sportskeeda

  • Angelo Dawkins: The Street Profits Will Never Betray Each Other

    The Street Profits will be sticking together for the long term according to recent comments made by Angelo Dawkins.

    The team, consisting of Dawkins and Montez Ford, debuted on a March 2016 edition of WWE NXT, and has been a team ever since.

    The Street Profits are one of three teams to have held the NXT, Raw, and SmackDown Tag Team Championships (the others being The Revival/FTR and the New Day.)

    Sticking Together

    Given the number of tag teams and groups that have split due to a betrayal (The Rockers, Evolution, The Shield, etc) it\’s no wonder why many expect one member of the Steet Profits to betray the other.

    While speaking to the Attitude Era Podcast, Dawkins was asked if there were plans for him and Ford to go their separate ways.

    \”Nah, never. Never. We’re brothers till the end bro. We’re always gonna support each other no matter what, we always got each other’s back, we ain’t never turning [on each other.]\”

    Angelo Dawkins.

    Singles Push

    While Dawkins has no plans to turn on Ford and vice versa, being a tag team may not prevent the Street Profits from reaching singles success.

    In recent years, Ford\’s ability and charisma have earned him praise from several notable names, including Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson, who Ford idolized during his youth.

    Last October, it was reported that Dawkins had been impressing a lot of the right names backstage, with the bigger member of the team having as many singles matches from June to October as he did from April 2021 to May 2022.

    Angelo Dawkins On If There Has Been Any Talk Of Breaking Up Street Profits

    h/t – POST Wrestling

  • Dragon Lee Makes WWE In-Ring Debut at NXT Live Event

    WWE\’s hottest recent signing Dragon Lee has proven himself in the ring by making his wrestling debut at an NXT live event.

    Lee announced in December of last year that he had signed with WWE, moments after winning the AAA World Tag Team Championships with Dralistico.

    WWE had been interested in signing Lee after he competed for All Elite Wrestling while not being under contract.

    In-Ring Debut

    At an NXT live event in St. Petersburg, Florida, Dragon Lee made his much-anticipated in-ring debut for the gold brand.

    In his debut match, the masked Superstar defeated Eddy Thorpe, fka Karl Fredericks, who also recently signed with the promotion.

    You can check out some of the photos of Dragon Lee\’s in-ring debut below.

    https://twitter.com/JoelPearl/status/1634735243444772865

    During this week\’s WWE NXT Roadblock event, Dragon Lee made his TV debut for the brand and appeared in the crowd.

    The masked Superstar had initially been scheduled to debut at NXT Vengeance Day, but visa issues caused his arrival to be delayed.

    Big Plans

    Dragon Lee has had just one match as a WWE Superstar to his name, but WWE already has big plans for the masked wrestler.

    It has been reported that WWE intends for Dragon Lee to be on the main roster by the time of WrestleMania 40, which will take place in Philadelphia next April.

    Dragon Lee is optimistic about his future in the company, and has said he believes he can be the next Rey Mysterio if given the opportunity.

    AAA Believed Dragon Lee Going to WWE was a Joke (Report)

  • WWE Has WrestleMania Weekend Plans for SmackDown Stable

    WrestleMania 39 is now just 20 days away, and one SmackDown stable is expected to make their presence felt at the show.

    WrestleMania 39 will mark WWE\’s fourth two-night WrestleMania, which was introduced in 2020 due to restrictions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Matches confirmed for the show include Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns Vs. Cody Rhodes, SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair Vs. Rhea Ripley, and Seth Rollins Vs. Logan Paul.

    WrestleMania Plans

    One stable that hasn\’t been confirmed for WrestleMania 39 is Legado Del Fantasma, but that is expected to change in due time.

    Fightful Select reports that while details are still scarce, there are \”plans\” for the factions over WrestleMania weekend.

    In recent weeks, the group has turned face, aiding Rey Mysterio in his issues with Dominik Mysterio and the Judgment Day.

    On the most recent episode of SmackDown, it was confirmed that until their battle with the Judgement Day is over it was official that Rey is an associate of the group.

    Legado Del Fantasma

    In June 2020, El Hijo del Fantasma, fresh off his NXT Cruiserweight Championship win, aligned himself with Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza.

    This heel turn saw Fantasma demask and rebrand himself as Santos Escobar, and the group would be dubbed Legado Del Fantasma.

    As part of the gold brand, Escobar would later challenge for the NXT and NXT North American Championships, but would be unsuccessful in both pursuits.

    In mid-2022, the group began a subtle face turn as part of their feud with Tony D\’Angelo, which resulted in Escobar losing a loser-leaves-NXT match to the Don.

    In October 2022, the group was called up to WWE\’s main roster as heels, but with Zelina Vega replacing Elektra Cruz in the faction.

    “Hit Row Is Wack” – Legado del Fantasma Brag About Successful Debut On WWE SmackDown

  • Who Will Induct Rey Mysterio Into the WWE Hall of Fame?

    One of the biggest names in Mexican wrestling will make his return to WWE to induct Rey Mysterio into the WWE Hall of Fame.

    It was confirmed this week that Mysterio will be the first inductee into this year\’s class, after a celebrated career both in and out of WWE.

    The three-time former World Champion is also a WWE Grand Slam winner, Royal Rumble winner and has held various accolades outside of WWE.

    Inductor

    With such a lengthy and celebrated career, there is no shortage of wrestlers who\’d make sense to induct Rey into the Hall of Fame.

    The Los Angeles Times reported this week that Konnan will be doing the honors, and in a tweet, Dave Meltzer confirmed that report.

    Meltzer explained that Rey personally asked for Konnan and the company approved it, adding that it was \”the only choice.

    In the early 90s, Konnan was brought into the WWF to play the Max Moon character but would leave the promotion after three televised matches.

    In interviews, Konnan has said the cost of the costume ($13,000, equivalent to $27,000 today) immediately caused friction with the company\’s higher-ups.

    Konnan and the Mysterios

    In WCW and in Mexico, Rey and Konnan worked together, but the latter has kept a close eye on the Mysterio family.

    It has been reported that Konnan has been helping Dominik Mysterio throughout his career, but especially since his heel turn last September in Cardiff.

    Konnan is a godfather to Dominik, and many have said that Dom\’s ex-con attire and character have been influenced by Konnan.

    Reason Why Rey Mysterio Missed WWE’s Royal Rumble

  • Japanese Wrestling Legend to be Inducted Into WWE 2023 Hall of Fame (Report)

    One of the biggest names in the history of Japanese wrestling will be part of this year\’s class of WWE Hall of Famers, it has been claimed.

    Contrary to previous years, which have seen WWE announce inductees in the months prior to WrestleMania, the promotion has waited very late this year.

    Yesterday, WWE confirmed that Rey Mysterio will be part of this year\’s class, making him the third active Superstar to be inducted (behind Ric Flair in 2008, and Bill Goldberg in 2018.)

    The Great Muta

    Japanese wrestling legend The Great Muta will be joining Rey as part of this year\’s Hall of Fame, according to PW Insider.

    Muta, aka Keiji Muto, recently finished his wrestling career, losing to Masahiro Chono at a Pro Wrestling NOAH event last month.

    Despite Muto\’s success across various promotions both in his native Japan and internationally, the four-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion never competed in WWE.

    For his retirement tour, WWE allowed Shinsuke Nakamura to compete in a match against Muta, which at the time was reported as part of a \”trade-off\” between WWE & NOAH.

    There is no word on who will be inducting the legendary wrestler into the Hall of Fame.

    Who Else Is In?

    More inductees are expected to be announced in due time, though details are scarce as to who will be going into the Hall of Fame.

    Trish Stratus who was inducted in 2013, said last month that Victoria and Impact Wrestling Knockouts World Champion Mickie James both deserve the nod this year.

    It is believed that Batista will also be inducted this year, after withdrawing from the 2020 class due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Mick Foley has said he has been contacted about inducting someone into the Hall of Fame this year, but has not said who.

    WWE Hall of Fame: Latest Update on Plans for This Year’s Ceremony

  • GCW Opposing AEW\’s Fight Forever Trademark in Settlement Negotiations

    Fight Forever, the much-anticipated console video game has yet to hit shelves, and Game Changer Wrestling may have played a role in this.

    AEW: Fight Forever was first announced in late 2020 and will mark the promotion\’s first foray into the world of console gaming.

    Tony Khan\’s promotion has two other games, AEW Elite: GM, and AEW Casino: Double or Nothing, both of which are available on mobile devices.

    Fight Forever Dispute

    During last weekend\’s post-AEW Revolution media scrum, Tony Khan indicated that the game was finished, but stopped short of giving a release date.

    Now, close to one week later, we still have no word on when the game will launch and GCW may have played a role in the holdup.

    Paperwork filed with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office reveals that GCW is formally opposing AEW\’s registration of its \”Fight Forever\” trademark.

    The two sides are said to be in settlement talks, with Michael Dockins, who has aided wrestlers in both companies with trademarks, representing GCW.

    GCW did host their own Fight Forever event in January 2021, which was a 24-hour event with zero fans due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The show\’s purpose was to highlight indie wrestling during the pandemic, and GCW filed a trademark on the Fight Forever term last year.

    AEW: Fight Forever

    With an eight-digit investment into their gaming department (at least $10 million), a lot is riding on the success of Fight Forever.

    For many wrestlers in the All-Elite promotion, the game will mark their first time being a playable character in a game, as opposed to a CAW.

    The game will feature wrestling game staples, including singles matches, tag matches, ladder matches, and battle royales, as well as more unique match types including the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch and Intergender wrestling.

    At this time, there is still no word on when the game will be released.

    AEW Working On Video Game Projects Other than Fight Forever

  • Edge Names Former WWE Universal Champion the \”Rated-R Superstar of Now\”

    Edge may have established himself as the \’Rated-R Superstar\’ but he now believes that a current WWE Superstar is deserving of the moniker.

    In late 2005, Edge debuted his nickname as the Rated-R Superstar, and alongside Lita would perform more and more headline-grabbing actions on TV.

    Perhaps the most infamous came in January 2006, when Edge and Lita had a \’live-sex celebration\’ that was interrupted by both Ric Flair and John Cena

    The Rated-R Superstar of Now

    In 2021, Edge, just over a year after his return from retirement, began a feud with Seth Rollins, with the two men trading victories.

    That feud saw Edge win at that year\’s Summerslam, while Rollins would get his win back during an episode of SmackDown.

    In the rubber match, Edge would return to Hell in a Cell, besting Rollins inside the barbaric structure at Crown Jewel 2021.

    Speaking on the latest episode of the After The Bell podcast, Edge heaped praise on Rollins, calling him worthy of the Rated R moniker.

    \”we’re so damn similar. We look at things in a very similar way. You know, he’s carved his own path.

    \”To me if I look at it, and if I make the comparisons to rosters of yesteryear, like he is the Rated-R Superstar of now, he is firmly his own thing.\”

    Edge.

    Continuing the Feud

    Edge and Seth Rollins haven\’t faced off in years but that doesn\’t mean that a fourth match between the pair could not happen.

    On the show, Edge explained that he remains open to a match against the former Universal Champion.

    \”Seth Rollins is a guy that we’ll never fully be through with each other.

    \”I just you know, to be honest anytime I can get in there with him I know what it feels like we both know what feels like the minute we touched I was like ‘Ooh okay, all right, we got something here. So hell yeah, I mean I do that in a heartbeat,’ you know, we had a trilogy that doesn’t mean can’t be more.”

    Edge.

    If Edge is planning a rematch, then the window of time is running out, as the Hall of Famer teased last year that he will be retiring the next time WWE comes to Canada in 2023.

    Edge Reflects On The Generations Of Legends He’s Worked With Throughout His WWE Career

    h/t – Inside the Ropes

  • Bayley Proves She\’s Been \”Studying\” Lita\’s Strengths & Weaknesses for Decades

    Damage CTRL\’s Bayley will achieve a lifelong dream when she faces Lita at WrestleMania 39, and this is a match the Role Model has been preparing for decades.

    On this week\’s Raw, a six-woman tag-team match was made official for WrestleMania 39, pitting new WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions Lita and Becky Lynch, as well as Trish Stratus, against Damage CTRL.

    During an edition of the Broken Skull Sessions, Bayley named Lita as her dream opponent from any era of wrestling.

    Studying

    Before becoming the heel Role Model we know today, Bayley was WWE\’s premiere Super-Fan, and this wasn\’t just her character.

    A lifelong WWE fan, Bayley grew up watching Lita, and (according to the former SmackDown Women\’s Champion) knows her weaknesses.

    Taking to Twitter, Bayley shared an essay she wrote in her youth, showing that she has been studying the WWE Hall of Famer for decades.

    Instead of returning from a career-threatening neck injury in March 2003 as young Bayley had hoped, Lita would return to action that September.

    WrestleMania 39

    This year\’s WrestleMania will be an especially special one for Bayley, and now just because she\’s facing her hero on the card.

    Bayley hasn\’t competed at WrestleMania since 2020, as she missed last year\’s event due to an ACL injury that forced her to miss over a year of action.

    For 2021, Bayley was simply not used for a match, which angered fans given how much work she\’d done during the crowd-less Pandemic era.

    Instead, Bayley had an on-stage segment where she was attacked by the Bella Twins.

    Given that WrestleMania 36 in 2020 took place without live fans, Bayley\’s most recent match at WrestleMania with a crowd was back in 2019.

    Bayley Reveals Additional Stars She Wanted In Damage CTRL

  • The Usos Reach New Milestone in WWE Tag Team History

    Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos are back on the same page and have reached another milestone in the annals of tag-team history.

    At WWE Royal Rumble 2023, Jey refused to attack Sami Zayn, seemingly leaving the Bloodline and raising questions about the future of The Usos.

    During this week\’s Raw, Jey reunited with Jimmy and the rest of the Bloodline by attacking Sami Zayn.

    New Milestone

    Since WWE Money in the Bank in July 2021, The Usos have dominated as the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions.

    Last May, the brothers defeated then-Raw Tag Team Champions RK-Bro to unify the titles, though WWE has since allowed the titles to be defended separately.

    This week, The Usos (already the longest-reigning Tag Team Champions in history) reached 600 days of this latest reign as SmackDown Tag Team Champions.

    If you count the combined number of days The Usos have held tag gold in WWE, the brothers have dominated for 1,527 days.

    The End?

    The Usos may have held the SmackDown Tag Team titles for 600 days (and counting) in their latest reign with the Championships, but will they reach 700?

    It has been reported (though not confirmed by WWE) that the plan is for the brothers to defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania 39 against Zayn and Kevin Owens.

    There have been calls by some for the match to headline Night One of the event, given the popularity of the storyline featuring Zayn and the Bloodline.

    Jimmy Uso Praises Ava Raine & Says She is Ready to Represent The Bloodline

  • WWE To Begin Announcing 2023 Hall of Fame Inductees Today (Report)

    Fans won\’t have to wait much longer to learn who will be inducted into this year\’s Hall of Fame, it has been claimed.

    Since 1993, WWE has celebrated wrestlers and icons of the industry with their Hall of Fame, with the first recipient being Andre the Giant.

    WWE also has a celebrity wing of their Hall of Fame as well as the Warrior Award which was introduced in 2015.

    2023 Hall of Fame

    Unlike previous years, WWE has been in no hurry to announce inductees into this year\’s Hall of Fame.

    At this point in the calendar, WWE would typically have most, if not all, inductees announced, but so far, nobody has been confirmed for this year\’s class.

    According to Wrestle Votes, inductees will be announced later today, given that we are now three weeks away from the ceremony.

    Who\’s In This Year?

    While nobody has been publicly confirmed by WWE, there’s no shortage of names rumored to be going into the Hall of Fame this year.

    It has been reported that former World Champion Dave Batista will be headlining this year’s class, after withdrawing from the 2020 class.

    The Animal withdrew given the Covid-19 pandemic, as 2020\’s class were bundled with the 2021 class two years ago.

    While some felt that 2022 would be the Animal\’s time, the ceremony was (rightly) headlined by The Undertaker.

    Last month, Ric Flair shared his belief that the Midnight Express should be inducted, calling the iconic faction a “great team.”

    Trish Stratus who was inducted in 2013, said last month that Victoria and Impact Wrestling Knockouts World Champion Mickie James both deserve the nod this year.

    John Morrison Thinks Hall of Fame Is ‘Political And Made Up’

  • WWE In Talks to Host Australia Stadium Supershow (Report)

    The Superstars of WWE could be heading down under in due time for a stadium event in Australia.

    In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it is reported that the state government of Western Australia is \”negotiating\” with WWE to run a major stadium show.

    Dave Meltzer writes that if successful, the likely city for the event would be Perth, which recently hosted a UFC show.

    UFC shows outside the U.S. are, in essence, local governments bringing in UFC for tourism or other reasons, and WWE would bring a ton of attraction to Perth.

    WWE in Australia

    While Sydney may be approximately 10,000 miles from WWE\’s headquarters in Stamford, the promotion has a solid history with Australia.

    In 2002, over 56,000 fans filled Colonial Stadium for WWE\’s Global Warning event, which saw The Rock defeat Triple H and Brock Lesnar to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship in the main event.

    It would be over 14 years later that WWE would have taped content in Australia, filming matches for NXT in December 2016 that would air the next month.

    70,000 fans packed the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2018 for Super ShowDown, and WWE has done several untelevised tours of Australia, the most recent being in 2019.

    Homecoming

    If this show goes ahead, it will be a homecoming for many of the Superstars in NXT and on the main roster.

    On the main roster, recently returned Superstars Emma and Bronson Reed call Australia home, as does 2023 Women\’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley.

    NXT is also home to some exceptional Australian talent, including Duke Hudson, Xyon Quinn, Indi Hartwell, and Grayson Waller.

    WWE Secures New Television and Streaming Deal in Australia

  • Latest On Ronda Rousey\’s Injury – Recovery Time & WrestleMania 39 (Report)

    Ronda Rousey\’s plans for WWE WrestleMania 39 remain uncertain, with the former Raw and SmackDown Women\’s Champion still out with an injury.

    During last week\’s SmackDown, Rousey appeared in a sling as she accompanied Shayna Baszler for the latter\’s match with Tegan Nox.

    While some had initially believed the injury was just part of the storyline as Baszler and Rousey had brawled with Nox & Natalya, it has been clarified that she is legitimately hurt.

    The Injury

    It has been reported that Rousey\’s injury is actually a reaggravated injury that she suffered years earlier.

    In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that Rousey is believed to be dealing with a \”hairline fracture.\”

    Meltzer added that the injury occurred during a training session and not from anything physical that transpired on TV or at a WWE live event.

    Typically, a hairline fracture takes a few weeks to fully recover from but can require surgery in rare cases.

    WrestleMania 39 Plans

    This injury could not come at a worse time given that Rousey and WWE are now just 22 days away from WrestleMania 39.

    As one of the biggest mainstream stars on WWE\’s roster, Rousey was always booked to be part of the show.

    In his report, Meltzer states that the plan remains for Rousey to compete for the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships alongside Baszler next month.

    There is the possibility that WWE Women\’s Tag Champions Lita and Becky Lynch will have to compete twice at WrestleMania, as they have been confirmed for a six-woman tag-team match.

    WWE Changed Bianca Belair’s WrestleMania Plans Due to Ronda Rousey

  • Former AEW Star to Make Return on Upcoming Dynamite

    A former name from All Elite Wrestling will make his return to the promotion next week, Tony Khan has confirmed.

    2022 saw several names depart the All-Elite promotion, the majority of which having signed three-year deals with the company upon its launch in 2019.

    Of course, the biggest loss for AEW last year was Cody Rhodes, who has since become WWE\’s top babyface and possibly the next World Champion.

    Stu Grayson

    In May of last year, it was announced that Stu Grayson had left AEW, after he and the promotion failed to come to terms over a new deal.

    In later reports, it was reported that a difference over money had been a stumbling block in negotiations and that a lack of consistent TV time was also a factor.

    While Grayson is no longer under contract, the Dark order alum will make his return to AEW next week as part of a six-man tag-team match.

    Grayson will team with Evil Uno and \’Hangman\’ Adam Page to face the Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and ROH World Champion Claudio Castagnoli.

    AEW President announced Grayson\’s return on Twitter.

    It shouldn\’t be too surprising that Grayson is back, as at the time of his release, it was reported that the door had not shut on his return.

    Next Week\’s Dynamite

    The return of Stu Grayson will be just part of a stacked AEW Dynamite, which will be the promotion\’s first Dynamite in Winnipeg.

    AEW All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy will face Jeff Jarrett to determine the first AEW International Champion.

    New AEW Trios Champions the House of Black will face The Elite and the Jericho Appreciation Society in title action.

    AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill will put her title and her strike on the line against a yet-to-be-named opponent, while AEW World Champion MJF will have his \’re-Bar Mitzvah.\’

    Evil Uno Opens Up About Stu Grayson’s AEW Release

  • GUNTHER Weighs Up The Pros & Cons Of Celebrity Wrestling Matches

    Are matches involving celebrities a good or bad thing for the world of professional wrestling?

    While other promotions do use the occasional outside name, nobody does it quite like WWE, as the promotion often uses celebrities around WrestleMania season.

    In recent years, Bad Bunny, Johnny Knoxville, and Logan Paul (who has since signed with WWE) have all competed at the Showcase of the Immortals.

    Pros and Cons

    To many, celebrities stepping into the ring is an inherently bad thing, as it takes away from a full-time member of the roster.

    Speaking on Superstar Crossover, GUNTHER noted that he understands the frustration from stars who don’t get to wrestle on the card.

    \”Somebody that wrestles all year round, and then comes WrestleMania, and it’s somebody who is always working and it’s their drive of ‘I want to be in the big spectacle,’ and some spots won’t be available because we have celebrities come in.\”

    GUNTHER.

    The reigning Intercontinental Champion added though that these celebrities do make the effort, and that they bring a lot of good attention to WWE.

    “It helps our business in general to generate way more attention. The only thing I think is important is, whoever comes in from the outside and takes part in what we do, they have to have a passion for it and has to take it as serious to be part of our product.\”

    GUNTHER.

    The Imperium leader name-dropped Logan Paul and Bad Bunny as two key examples of the benefit of celebrities stepping in the ring.

    GUNTHER went so far as to claim that Paul (who has competed four times for WWE,) is taking risks he would be hesitant to take himself.

    GUNTHER at WrestleMania

    The reigning Intercontinental Champion does not have to worry about losing his spot at WrestleMania 39, which will be his first WrestleMania.

    On tonight\’s SmackDown, a five-way match will determine the Austrian\’s challenger for WrestleMania.

    The match will consist of Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, Karrion Kross, LA Knight, and Xavier Woods, who is replacing the injured Kofi Kingston.

    GUNTHER To Receive Huge Main Event World Championship Push in 2023?

    h/t – Fightful

  • John Cena Gives Guest Seminar At Cody Rhodes & QT Marshall\’s Nightmare Factory

    John Cena is on the road to WrestleMania 39, and the 16-time World Champion made a stop this week to help the next generation of wrestlers.

    During this week\’s Raw, Cena made his return to WWE and after some goading, accepted Austin Theory\’s offer for a United States Championship match at WrestleMania.

    This will mark Cena\’s first match with WWE since teaming with Kevin Owens to defeat Sami Zayn and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in December 2022.

    Guest Speaker

    As a leading man in Hollywood (and now with his new WWE commitments) John Cena is an exceptionally busy man.

    Despite his schedule, the GOAT made time to visit the Nightmare Factory training facility, run by Cody Rhodes and AEW\’s QT Marshall.

    In a tweet from the account, Cena can be seen with several of the facility\’s trainees.

    https://twitter.com/NF_Training/status/1633984826897313792

    The End of John Cena?

    John Cena will always be one of WWE\’s biggest stars, but it is hardly a secret that he is in the latter stages of his wrestling career.

    Cena has wrestled just three televised matches in the past three years, as his claim that \’You Can\’t See Me\’ has become painfully true for fans.

    Taking to Twitter after his return on Raw this week, Cena said that for the first time, he felt like this could be the last time he makes a return to WWE.

    It\’s unclear how many appearances on WWE programming Cena will make before his match with Theory at WrestleMania 39 this April.

  • Update on Why AEW Is Changing the Name of All-Atlantic Championship

    AEW\’s decision to change the name of the All-Atlantic Championship has been a long time in the making.

    During this week\’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan announced that the All-Atlantic title will be renamed the AEW International Championship next week.

    On next week\’s Dynamite, Orange Cassidy, the current AEW All-Atlantic Champion, will face Jeff Jarrett to determine the AEW International Champion.

    The Decision

    The decision to rebrand the AEW All-Atlantic Championship was made months ago, according to Fightful Select.

    In their report, it is noted that Warner Bros asked for something big in order to cross-promote Shazam: Fury of the Gods, which releases March 17.

    Tony Khan was the one who had the idea of doing a \”level up\” of the championship to the International Championship.

    A new championship title was created months ago to prepare specifically for this week and next week in order to promote the new film.

    Shazam: Fury of the Gods is the sequel to 2019\’s Shazam, which tells the story of Billy Batson and his adoptive siblings, who an ancient wizard gives god-like superpowers.

    Cross-Promotion

    Next week\’s reveal of the AEW International Championship to promote Shazam: Fury of the Gods is hardly the first time AEW has dabbled in cross-promotion.

    AEW hosted a dragon-themed edition of AEW Dynamite in August last year, to cross-promote the Game of Thrones spinoff series House of the Dragon.

    Fightful reports that AEW \”is always excited to do the cross-promotional work\” and attempts to have newsworthy items in association with them.

    AEW also wanted to put something newsworthy on the Winnipeg show and increase the prestige of a title they put on television often in prime positions.

    AEW Dynamite Results (2/22/23): Orange Cassidy Retains All-Atlantic Title Over Wheeler Yuta, Tony Khan and Adam Cole Make ‘Major’ Announcement

  • Gable Steveson Calls Return to the Olympics \”The Top of My List\”

    Gable Steveson\’s career in WWE will likely face another delay given the young Superstar\’s plans to return to the Olympics.

    In 2021, weeks after winning Gold in Tokyo, Steveson signed with WWE putting rumors to bed that he could join the NFL, UFC, or even AEW.

    That same year, Steveson was drafted to Monday Night Raw, making him the first person in history to be drafted before having a professional match.

    The Olympics

    Steveson has been with WWE for close to two years, but he is yet to wrestle a match for the promotion.

    In an interview with MMAFighting.com, Steveson said that he plans on competing at the Summer Games in Paris, France next year.

    \”I’m 22 and next year I’ll be 23 at the Olympic games. It’s definitely a blessing to be able to call yourself an Olympic gold medalist and to be able to have the WWE fans recognize you with that, but in my eyes, there’s always a next and there’s always a bigger show to accomplish. WWE is another show to accomplish, but being a two-time Olympic gold medalist is also on the top of my list.\”

    Gable Steveson.

    It has been reported that WWE intended to \’fast track\’ Steveson to the main roster, but he has not shown the level of progress in training that was expected of him.

    Steveson\’s one and only offensive maneuver in WWE came at WrestleMania 38, when he suplexed (fellow Olympian) Chad Gable.

    Debut

    If Steveson goes ahead with plans to wrestle in Paris, then it\’s unlikely he will be wrestling for WWE before then, and risk an injury.

    That doesn\’t mean that Steveson could not show up on WWE TV, and in the interview, said he feels he is close to being on programming.

    \”It will be coming really, really soon. And when I mean really, really soon, probably after [WrestleMania] or just a little bit after that.\”

    Gable Steveson.

    There are currently no reports that reveal if WWE has plans for Steveson to be used on-screen in any capacity anytime soon.

    Kurt Angle Shares Advice For Gable Steveson Ahead Of WWE Debut

    h/t – NoDQ.com

  • WWE Will Be in \”Incredible Amount of Trouble\” If Gambling Plans Fail (Report)

    WWE is taking a huge risk with their new gambling proposals which would allow fans to make more and bigger bets on the matches.

    Despite being scripted entertainment, WWE does allow some small bets on matches, and has teamed with popular services including DraftKings and FanDuel.

    This week, it was reported that WWE is speaking with State Gambling Regulators to legalize betting on results.

    Trouble

    While fans do not know the results of matches for certain until they see the bout itself, there are people within WWE who know the results well ahead of time.

    Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that WWE could be risking it all if the match results leak under their proposed gambling initiative.

    \”If they do this, legitimately, they can\’t tell anyone. It\’s not like you\’re going to sneak around the system. There\’s going to be safeguards and everything. The minute they tell people [the results] and it gets out… they\’d be in an incredible amount of trouble for gaming violations. That\’s nothing to mess with. They literally can\’t do that. So the talent will not be able to know their finishes at least in the stuff that\’s being gambled on.\”

    \”The minute they tell people [the results] and it gets out… they\’d be in an incredible amount of trouble for gaming violations.\”

    Dave Meltzer.

    Meltzer confirmed rumors that WWE Superstars would not be told the results of their own matches until the last minute, which could cause serious problems backstage.

    \”I think it is limited to only the biggest matches, which actually makes it even funnier. Because let\’s just say you\’re planning a title change. You\’re not going to tell the champion, or the challenger about the title change until about an hour or two before the match starts.\”

    Dave Meltzer.

    Bryan Alvarez jokingly wished WWE good luck the next time they want Brock Lesnar to wrestle without telling him the result of his own match until the last minute.

    Surprise

    WWE\’s gambling plans have taken fans by surprise, as well as those in the company.

    Ironically, these plans were kept a closely guarded secret in WWE, but have since leaked to the public. Meltzer explained:

    \”This surprised a lot of people, including the company. Because this wasn\’t something that people knew WWE was doing, trying to get this stuff done. But what I\’m guessing, more than guessing, is that Draft Kings wants to sponsor them. And Draft Kings does sponsor WWE, and they do sponsor AEW as well. And if WWE gets this, would AEW then follow?\”

    Meltzer chalked up these big plans to WWE\’s CEO Nick Khan.

    \”This is Nick Khan\’s baby. He\’s a sports guy. And there\’s a lot of money in sports gambling.\”

    Dave Meltzer.
    WWE in Talks With State Gambling Regulators to Legalize Betting On Match Results (Report)

    For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.

  • WWE Once Fined Ric Flair $5,000 for Not Taking a Picture

    Ric Flair is one of the most recognized professional wrestlers in history, but he will take photos when it is right for him.

    In 2005, Flair won the Intercontinental Championship from Carlito at that year\’s Unforgiven Pay-Per-View, marking Flair\’s one and only reign with the gold.

    This win would also be Flair\’s first taste of singles gold in WWE in 13 years after previously holding the WWE Championship twice in 1992.

    Being Fined

    Ric Flair was on WWE\’s roster for years, and it shouldn\’t be a surprise that the \’Dirtiest Player in the Game\’ got in trouble backstage at times.

    Speaking on the latest episode of his To Be the Man podcast, Ric recalled being fined for failing the Wellness Policy.

    \”I got popped for a steroid test. [John] Lauriniaitis. I said I said \’I got a prescription.\’ He said \’the doctor said it doesn\’t work on a guy your age.\’ I said \’I\’m 55 years old wrestling 25-year-old kids!\’ And he said \’you\’re fined 40 grand but you\’re not going home. Be at work every day I\’m just not going to pay you for a month.\’\”

    Ric Flair.

    Five-Grand Fine

    Being fined for his Wellness Policy violation was hardly the only time Flair would get in trouble with WWE.

    During the show, Flair recalled his Intercontinental Championship win, and being fined almost immediately after his victory.

    \”They still don\’t have a [studio] picture of me with the Intercontinental belt. It drives them crazy, right? I said \’I\’m not taking a picture with the Intercontinental belt\’ and so they fined me five thousand dollars. And I told them. \’When you guys are so starved for talent, that you\’ve got to fine a 55-year-old guy for not taking a picture with the Intercontinental belt, you\’ve got a developmental problem with talent.

    \”I said \’I\’m not taking a picture with the Intercontinental belt\’ and so they fined me five thousand dollars.\”

    Ric Flair.

    When co-host Conrad Thompson asked whether the 16-time World Champion felt the IC title was a step-down, Flair refuted the idea.

    \”No no no. It wasn\’t that. I just didn\’t want to take off my shirt any more than I had to. I\’m talking about vanity. It wasn\’t the belt, I mean that was awesome having the belt. That\’s a misconception. I just didn\’t want to take off my shirt any more than I had to. Man, I was ducking and diving. Paying Kevin Dunn off to shoot me at different angles.\”

    \”I just didn\’t want to take off my shirt any more than I had to.\”

    Ric Flair.

    Flair\’s 155-day reign would end in February 2006 when he dropped the title to Shelton Benjamin on Monday Night Raw.

    Ric Flair on His Last Match: ‘It Was The Sh*ts’

    For use of these quotes please give a h/t to SEScoops.