SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Bizarre WWE Video Package is Reminding Fans of Sasha Banks

    IWGP Women\’s Champion Mercedes Moné won\’t be making her WWE return anytime soon, but WWE doesn\’t want the fans to know that.

    Moné debuted for New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January, over seven months after walking out of the May 16, 2022, edition of Raw.

    At last month\’s Battle in the Valley event, Moné captured the IWGP Women\’s Championship from KAIRI, in the former\’s first match post-WWE.

    Video Package

    On next week\’s Raw, John Cena will make his return to WWE TV, in his first appearance since the final SmackDown of 2022.

    Unsurprisingly, WWE is hyping up the appearance of the 16-time World Champion, with a video that has reminded fans of Sasha Banks.

    WWE’s video said that next week, Raw would host the return \”you’ve been banking on,\” with text in a similar style to that of Banks’ WWE run.

    There are currently no plans for Moné to appear on next week\’s Raw or any future episode of WWE programming going forward.

    John Cena\’s Return

    Mercedes Moné won\’t be on next week\’s Raw, but Cena will be, likely to set up a WrestleMania match with United States Champion Austin Theory.

    A feud between the two began last year, and a match was rumored for Summerslam 2022, though that never transpired.

    It is unclear whether WWE will put Theory\’s U.S. title on the line for the match with Cena, who is kept away from the promotion due to his Hollywood commitments.

    WWE WrestleMania 39 will take place on April 1, and April 2, in Inglewood, California, and will be WWE\’s fourth two-night edition of the annual supershow.

    Bayley Will “Never Give Up Hope” Sasha Banks Will Return to WWE

  • Grayson Waller Effect with Guest Shawn Michaels Confirmed for WWE NXT Roadblock

    Grayson Waller\’s issues with NXT Head Shawn Michaels are likely to reach a boiling point at the upcoming NXT Roadblock event.

    Waller has proven to be a thorn in the side of the two-time WWE Hall of Famer for some time, after failing to dethrone NXT Champion Bronn Breakker.

    On the post-NXT Vengeance Day Conference Call last month, Waller confronted Michaels and asked what he needs to do to have the support of HBK.

    Grayson Waller Effect

    Waller\’s actions have earned him a suspension from WWE NXT, but the Australian Superstar will be around for NXT Roadblock.

    On Twitter, Michaels confirmed with a statement that Waller will appear at NXT Roadblock, which will take place next week on March 7, and that he will be the guest on the Grayson Waller Effect.

    \”Every day I focus on the development of the young men and women of NXT. I had my time in the spotlight. Now that attention should be directed on these incredible Superstars.

    \”However, knowing Grayson’s behavior will only get worse, and against my better judgment, l accept the invitation to be on the Grayson Waller Effect next week at Roadblock and promise to be as professional as I can be.\”

    Shawn Michaels.

    Other confirmed plans for NXT Roadblock include NXT Women\’s Champion Roxanne Perez defending against Meiko Satomura.

    Indus Sher will face the Creed Brothers and NXT Champion Bron Breakker in six-man tag-team action, while Dijak looks to settle things with Tony D\’Angelo in a Jailhouse Street Fight.

    Waller Vs. Michaels?

    Many believe that this could set up a match between Waller and Michaels at a future NXT event.

    Michaels retired from in-ring competition following his loss to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26 in 2010.

    In 2018, Michaels would have one more match, teaming with Triple H to defeat the Brothers of Destruction at that year\’s Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.

    Grayson Waller Reveals Advice He Received From The Miz

  • Released WWE Faction Reunites On The Independents

    A former WWE tag team has shown that they are as unified as ever despite being released from the promotion a few years ago.

    In April 2020, WWE began a new strategy of releasing talents in massive waves, which at the time was explained to talent as being due to \”budget cuts.\”

    Many found the reasoning to be fishy, as the time of the releases was also a time when the company was recording the biggest profits and highest earnings.

    Sanity

    Members of Sanity were just some of the names cut as part of these waves, with Killian Dain being cut in June 2021.

    This week, Dain, back under the name Big Damo, lost the PROGRESS Atlas Championship to Ricky Knight.

    Post-match, Axel Tischer, formerly Alexander Wolfe in WWE, appeared to congratulate his Sanity comrade.

    Wolfe would be part of Sanity and Imperium in WWE, before his release from WWE in May 2021.

    His final match in WWE had been in a losing effort to Dain and was kicked out of Imperium afterward.

    Other Members

    Of all the members of Sanity, Nikki Cross (Damo\’s wife) has gone on to be the group\’s most successful member.

    The Scottish Superstar is a former RAW Women\’s Champion, WWE Women\’s Tag Champion and WWE 24/7 Champion, as well as a Money in the Bank winner.

    In December of last year, it was reported that Eric Young would be returning to WWE soon enough, after being released in April 2020.

    Young returned to Impact Wrestling at that year\’s Slammiversary event, and would win the Impact World Championship that same year.

    Eric Young Reveals Original Plans For Sanity’s Main Roster Debut

  • Stevie Richards Thanks Fans After Recent Hospitalization

    WWE and ECW veteran Stevie Richards has thanked fans for their support, after recently disclosing he is dealing with several health issues.

    In a message on Instagram last week, Richards shared a photo of himself wearing a medical gown and standing with the aid of a walker.

    Richards explained that the last four weeks have been \”something else\” and his hopeful that his road to recovery starts as soon as possible.

    The Update

    In an update, Richards said he was incredibly grateful for the heart-felt messages and shows of support fans have sent his way since his previous post.

    On Instagram, Richards wrote the following in the caption of a video.

    \”The prayers have definitely been felt by us and we appreciate them so much. Please take a moment to pray for those who are in worse medical condition and are alone in the hospital. It’s breaks my heart to see those laying in a hospital bed without a hand to hold nor someone to lean on while in pain. #loveoneanother #helpothers #prayerstillworks #prayersup.”

    It has been reported that Richards is dealing with back and spinal issues, brought on by his lengthy career in the ring.

    In addition to WWE and ECW, Richards has also competed for TNA/Impact Wrestling, as well as several independent promotions.

    Richards\’ most recent match to date came in May 2019 as part of Beyond/WWR Wrestling, where he defeated Anthony Greene, who fans may know for his WWE run as August Grey.

    Stevie Richards Comments On His Favorite Run In Wrestling, Talks About The Undertaker Vs Goldberg

  • Finn Balor Lays Out Challenge to Edge for WWE WrestleMania 39 Match

    Edge and Finn Balor will seemingly go one-on-one at WrestleMania 39 after the former Universal Champion issued a challenge this week.

    Balor and Edge have been on opposing sides for over half a year now, after the Rated-R Superstar was ejected from the Judgment Day in mid-2022.

    At Extreme Rules last October, Balor got an I-Quit match victory over Edge, who returned at the Royal Rumble last month to eliminate Balor.

    WrestleMania 39

    On last night\’s Raw, Balor was interviewed backstage with the Judgment Day at his side and said he’s not done with Edge.

    The first-ever Universal Champion issued the challenge to a match at WrestleMania, which Edge has yet to respond to.

    It\’s been reported that WWE planned on Edge Vs. Balor at the Royal Rumble but nixed the idea due to Edge\’s commitments to the upcoming Percy Jackson series on Disney+.

    WWE and Edge felt that with the Hall of Famer not being able to appear on Raw in the run-up to the Royal Rumble, the match would not have received proper booking.

    It has been reported that the match in January was scheduled to take place inside Hell in a Cell, but there is no confirmation if this is the plan this time around.

    The Judgment Day at WrestleMania

    While Edge Vs. Balor has yet to be made official, it is expected to be confirmed for WrestleMania, which will be a busy night for the Judgment Day.

    By winning the 2023 Women\’s Royal Rumble match, Rhea Ripley earned herself a match at WrestleMania, and will challenge SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair this April.

    Though it has not been confirmed, many expect Dominik Mysterio to face his father Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 39.

    More Details on WWE’s Plans to Bring Back Finn Balor’s Demon Character

  • Mark Henry: CM Punk Is Not a Cancer to Wrestling

    Is CM Punk truly a cancer to the wrestling industry, as some have claimed?

    Punk has certainly been a controversial figure in recent months, following his inflammatory comments after last September\’s AEW All Out Pay-Per-View.

    It was these comments, as well as the backstage fight, that resulted in Punk\’s second reign as AEW World Champion coming to a swift and unceremonial end.

    Not a Cancer

    After the infamous Pay-Per-View, Chris Jericho branded Punk a “cancer” and the same term was used by WWE’s Seth Rollins last month during a Royal Rumble week interview.

    Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry discussed Punk, and said that while he may rub some people the wrong way, that’s only because Punk is passionate about his craft.

    “He’s not a cancer. He’s opinionated, but he’s also a teacher and supporter. I’ve seen him do stuff he didn’t have to do. He just did it because he loved the business and he wanted to make that wrestler better.”

    Mark Henry.

    Punk remains the only person suspended after AEW All Out 2022 to still be suspended at this time.

    Others who have spoken favorably of Punk following All Out include FTR\’s Dax Harwood and AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill.

    Bringing Punk Back

    CM Punk’s arrival in AEW saw the company’s ratings rise dramatically, and many believe that only by bringing Punk back can the company reach those heights again.

    While Punk has some allies backstage, it has been reported that some top names have refused to work with the former World Champion if he is brought back.

    Punk is currently healing from a torn triceps injury suffered at All Out, but should be 100% within two months.

    CM Punk Was Not “Correct” With All Out 2022 Actions Claims AEW Star

    h/t – Wrestling Inc

  • WWE Superstars Unhappy With Fewer WrestleMania Spots On \”Smaller\” Card (Report)

    This year\’s WrestleMania will feature a smaller card, leaving some frustrated Superstars off the biggest show of the year, it has been claimed.

    WrestleMania 39 will take place on April 1, and April 2, in Inglewood, California, marking the fourth two-night WrestleMania in a row.

    Night Two of the Showcase of the Immortals will be headlined by Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defending against Cody Rhodes.

    Smaller Card

    WrestleMania is WWE\’s biggest event of the year, so it is expected that it is the longest and most stacked show of the year.

    For single-night events, WrestleMania 35 (2019) takes the record for the longest WWE event in history, clocking in at five hours and 20 minutes (or over seven hours if you watch the pre-show.)

    WrestlingNews.co was informed that WWE will be using a smaller card as compared to previous years, and this is an edict from WWE\’s Head of Creative/Talent Relations Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque.

    It is reported that there will not be a WrestleMania Battle Royal at WrestleMania, which in years past allowed a lot of Superstars the chance to compete at the biggest show of the year.

    In more recent years, WWE has kept the men\’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal for the SmackDown before WrestleMania.

    At this time, three matches have been announced by WWE, though this will of course change.

    Unhappy

    With a smaller card comes fewer spots for talent to appear on the show, which Wrestling News was informed has led to \”some unhappiness\” backstage.

    There is also unhappiness about some of the slots on the show being saved for part-timers, though the report did not state who.

    We do know that Brock Lesnar will answer Omos\’ challenge for WrestleMania 39 on tonight\’s Raw, and a match between Edge and Finn Balor is expected.

    There have also been reports that Trish Stratus and Lita will team with Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 39 to face Damage CTRL.

    John Cena is expected to face United States Champion Austin Theory this April, though the match has yet to be confirmed by WWE.

    Becky Lynch & Seth Rollins Channel Batman & The Joker for WWE WrestleMania 39 Trailer

  • CM Punk Mocks \”Cancerous\” Locker Room Comments Amid AEW Suspension

    Is CM Punk truly a \’cancer\’ to the wrestling industry as some believe, or have those claims been greatly exaggerated?

    This week will mark the six-month anniversary since Punk\’s infamous comments on the All Out post-show, and the backstage fight that led to his suspension.

    Punk is now the only person suspended following All Out to still be suspended, with the Elite and others being brought back to TV and Punk\’s trainer Ace Steel being fired.

    Cancerous

    After the All Out fight, which came amid a difficult year for All Elite Wrestling, Chris Jericho branded Punk a \”cancer\” to the company.

    Jericho isn\’t the only one who feels this way, with Seth Rollins using similar verbiage when asked about Punk during a pre-Royal Rumble interview with Wrestling Inc.

    In an Instagram post this week, Punk poked fun at the idea that he is cancerous, with the help of a photoshopped image of Danhausen.

    In the image, Danhausen can be seen taking lemonade from a child without paying, which is actually from a panel from Marvel Comics featuring Kang the Conqueror.

    Punk joked that \’Danhausen\’ was \”cancerous\” and needed to be blackballed for this action, and also made reference to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

    \"\"

    What\’s Next for CM Punk?

    For Punk, the idea that he is \”cancerous\” may seem laughable, but many don\’t find his actions at All Out so funny.

    In addition to calling him a cancer, Jericho is reportedly part of a group within AEW who are trying to fight against Punk being brought back to TV.

    Many in WWE also feel the McMahon-led promotion would be making a mistake if Punk is brought in, believing that he would just cause more problems as we\’ve seen in AEW.

    CM Punk Was Not “Correct” With All Out 2022 Actions Claims AEW Star

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

    WWE Raw Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair will defend her title at WrestleMania 39 against Asuka, but this is not the match WWE had planned for the EST.

    Belair\’s reign as Raw Women\’s Champion began at WrestleMania 38 last April, and the popular Superstar\’s reign is the second longest in history (behind Becky Lynch.)

    Asuka, a former Raw Women\’s Champion in her own right, earned the title match by winning the Women\’s Elimination Chamber match earlier this month.

    Change of Plans

    While Asuka and Belair are more than capable of an exceptional match this April, this isn\’t what WWE had planned.

    Initial plans for WrestleMania 39 saw Belair defending her title against Charlotte Flair, according to a report from Fightful Select.

    Those plans changed when Ronda Rousey informed WWE of plans to take January off, and thus Flair was brought back from her hiatus earlier than planned.

    Flair\’s return saw the Queen capture the SmackDown Women\’s Championship from Rousey on the final SmackDown of 2022, and the Belair match nixed.

    Charlotte Flair will defend her SmackDown Women\’s Championship at WrestleMania 39 against 2023 Women\’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley.

    Rousey at WrestleMania

    With Rousey out of the Raw and SmackDown Women\’s Championship pictures, there has been speculation about what she will do at WrestleMania 39.

    It has been reported that WWE\’s plan is for Rousey and Shayna Baszler to challenge for the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships this April.

    A match between the MMA fighters and Damage CTRL is interesting, given that the trio of Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY are expected to face Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus and Lita at WrestleMania 39.

    Lita and Lynch will challenge Kai and SKY for the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Championships on tonight\’s episode of Raw.

    Former WWE Writer Discusses Bianca Belair First Year on Main Roster

  • Former WWE Announcer Makes Ring of Honor Debut at Latest Tapings

    Ring of Honor pulled out all the stops to make their return to TV tapings something to remember, including bringing in a veteran of WWE.

    This past weekend saw Ring of Honor tape their first show since being purchased by AEW President Tony Khan just under a year ago.

    The first episode of the ROH tapings will premiere this coming Thursday on March 2.

    Tony Chimel

    Over the weekend, ROH taped across both Saturday and Sunday, with the second night featuring the ROH debut of Tony Chimel.

    Chimel, best known for his time in WWE, served as the master of ceremonies for the event.

    Despite being best known as a ring announcer, Chimel will not be resuming that role with Ring of Honor, as ROH veteran Bobby Cruise is still on duty for the show.

    Chimel in WWE

    Chimel spent 38 years with WWE as a ring announcer before being released from his contract in 2020.

    It was Chimel who was the ring announcer for the very first episode of SmackDown in 1999 and would defeat Howard Finkel in a tuxedo match that same year to become the show\’s full-time announcer.

    Though not a wrestler, Chimel would have the occasional brush with talent, including Mr. Kennedy, who would be irate with how Chimel pronounced his name.

    On the December 22, 2006, SmackDown, Chimel\’s enthusiastic call for the Boogeyman would catch the attention of the bizarre Superstar, who forced worms into the announcer\’s mouth.

    In 2015, Chimel transitioned to just announcing at house shows but would appear during Beth Phoenix\’s 2017 Hall of Fame speech to deliver his infamous voice-cracking introduction of Edge.

    In his later years with WWE, Chimel worked backstage as a production manager and part of the ring crew before his release.

    Former WWE Announcer Tony Chimel Now Works For Trader Joe’s

  • Jim Ross Recalls Jeff Hardy Being Difficult to \”Totally Trust\” in WWE

    AEW commentator Jim Ross has said that WWE often struggled to \”totally trust\” Jeff Hardy due to his personal demons.

    Jeff\’s problems with substances, which have led to several arrests, have been well-documented, and have followed the veteran across multiple promotions.

    Last June, Hardy was arrested and charged with his third DUI in a decade, but the charge has been dropped due to a faulty breathalyzer result.

    Trust

    Hardy\’s personal demons have not stopped the \’Charismatic Enigma\’ from becoming one of the most popular stars in the history of wrestling.

    In WWE, Hardy was never turned heel, though such a turn was briefly teased in 2003 before his release from the company.

    Speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Ross explained why WWE opted not to make Hardy a heel.

    \”I don’t know if he’s too big [of a merch mover]. I think maybe, my guess on this question would be another one with reliability issues. How far do you go with someone that you don’t totally trust?\”

    Jim Ross.

    Ross added that any major plans for Hardy at the time were always seen through this \’can we trust him\’ lens, and said that at the time, the answer was \”no.\”

    Hardy would turn heel as part of TNA Wrestling years later, but has remained a face in WWE through his multiple runs with the company.

    Make Yourself Famous

    In 2002, WWE tried to show Hardy they had faith in him (and encourage him to change his ways,) by giving him a prominent feud with The Undertaker.

    To this day, their ladder match on the July 1, 2002, episode of Raw, is considered one of the best Raw matches ever, and Ross remembers it fondly.

    \”He’s one of my favorite talents to call matches for. I remember the match that he and Taker had. I said something like climb the ladder and make yourself famous or something to that effect. And I just admired his work so much, I adored it.\”

    Jim Ross.

    Despite this show of good faith by WWE, Hardy would not get a handle on his problems, and would be gone from the company less than a year later.

    Matt Hardy on Jeff: ‘He’s committed himself to getting better’
    h/t – ITR Wrestling

  • Retailer Lists Upcoming Release Date for AEW Fight Forever

    AEW fans and gamers may be mere weeks away from finally getting their hands on AEW\’s first console video game: Fight Forever.

    Following on from mobile games AEW Elite: GM, and AEW Casino: Double or Nothing, Fight Forever was first announced in late 2020.

    For many on the roster, AEW Fight Forever will mark their gaming debuts as playable characters.

    Release Date

    Despite hopes for an early 2022 release, fans are still yet to get their hands on the game, with the only playable versions being featured at conventions.

    This week, Best Buy listed AEW Fight Forever with a release date of March 31.

    While this date could change, it is the first official release date that the much-anticipated game has seen in some time.

    Currently, Amazon is listing the release date as December 31, 2023, and the game has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB.

    What We Know So Far

    While AEW Fight Forever is still yet to reach shelves, plenty is known already about the game.

    The game will feature a \”deep career mode,\” according to Evil Uno and Colt Cabana, who spoke about the project at Gamescon in Cologne, Germany last year.

    Online play will be a \”big part\” of the game, which will feature AEW staples including the Casino Ladder match and the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match.

    AEW Fight Forever will release on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch.

    CM Punk Seemingly Replaced on the AEW Fight Forever Video Game Cover

  • Dax Harwood Fires Back at AEW Over Being Snubbed – References Contract Ending

    Dax Harwood has teased leaving All Elite Wrestling within a matter of weeks after being snubbed by the promotion following the Wrestling Observer\’s awards.

    Harwood, alongside Cash Wheeler, joined AEW in 2020, one month after being granted their release from WWE.

    The former Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Tag Team Champions signed over their considerable down-side guarantees in order to be released without a non-compete clause in effect.

    In AEW, the pair are former AEW World Tag Champions and have also held tag gold for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and AAA.

    The Snub

    This week, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter shared its annual awards, and there were a lot of victories for the stars of AEW.

    On Twitter, the official AEW account congratulated several AEW stars, including Bryan Danielson for the Best Technician, and MJF for Most Charismatic.

    Tony Khan also received a celebratory tweet for winning Best Booker for the third year in a row, and Promoter of the Year for the fourth time.

    FTR, who won Tag Team of the Year, did not receive such a congratulatory message, something Harwood vented about in a tweet of his own.

    Winning the Tag Team of the Year award wasn\’t FTR\’s only accolade, as the pair were part of the Feud of the Year with the Briscoes.

    While this award was referenced by AEW, their tweet congratulated Dem Boys for the win, with no mention of FTR.

    April

    In his tweet, Harwood referenced the month of April, which is believed to be when FTR\’s contracts with AEW expire.

    On his FTR podcast, Harwood has spoken in the past about possibly leaving AEW, and admits that it could happen.

    Harwood has also claimed that what comes next for FTR will likely be the final chapter of their wrestling careers as a tag team.

    Vince McMahon Once Called an FTR Match the Worst Thing He’s Ever Seen

  • \”The Right Call\” – AEW Star Defends Sami Zayn\’s Loss at WWE Elimination Chamber

    Should Sami Zayn have captured the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship last week at the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event?

    Over the past year, Zayn, who always had a devoted fanbase, has become one of WWE\’s most popular stars in recent memory, thanks to his work with the Bloodline.

    At last weekend\’s event, Zayn came up short against Roman Reigns, in the Canadian\’s first one-on-one World Championship opportunity at a Premium Live Event.

    The Right Call

    Given Zayn\’s immense popularity, and the fact that WWE Elimination Chamber was in Montreal, many have said that a title change should have happened.

    WWE evidently felt differently, and at this time, the main event of WrestleMania 39 will see Cody Rhodes challenge Reigns for the title.

    During the latest episode of his Extreme Life podcast, AEW\’s Matt Hardy justified the booking decision.

    \”Cody has been an investment by WWE. Obviously, he was an investment when you saw that he had that injury and he still went into Hell in the Cell and he defeated Seth Rollins three matches straight. It was very obvious they had big plans for Cody Rhodes.\”

    \”I think it’s the right move and I don’t think it hurts Sami one bit.\”

    Matt Hardy.

    \”Let him be the guy to defeat Roman, I think that\’s the way to go. I think it’s the right move and I don’t think it hurts Sami one bit. If anything, that loss elevated Sami. It didn’t hurt him. It helped him. Also, you have a built-in competitor for Cody down the road with Sami.\”

    Hardy added that Sami is a \”legitimate world champion level contender,\” and reiterated that the loss in Montreal was the \”right call.\”

    What\’s Next for Sami Zayn?

    While Sami Zayn will not be in the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship picture at WrestleMania, he may still leave with gold.

    It is rumored that Zayn will team with Kevin Owens this April to challenge Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos.

    Given Zayn\’s popularity, there is a possibility that this match could headline Night One of WrestleMania, though nothing has been publicly confirmed at this time.

    Eric Bischoff Compares Sami Zayn to Respected Veteran

    h/t – WrestlingNews

  • Andrade El Idolo and Others React to Dominik Mysterio Smooth Talking Charlotte Flair on WWE SmackDown

    Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley have proven to be quite the duo on WWE programming, and have caught the attention of those outside of the promotion.

    In the run-up to WWE Clash at the Castle, Ripley repeatedly targeted Dominik, who at the time was aligned with his father Rey Mysterio and Edge.

    After turning on his father and the Hall of Famer, Dominik and Ripley have been inseparable and have appeared together both at WWE events and away from the ring.

    Reactions

    During this week\’s SmackDown, Dominik made a rare appearance on the blue brand to confront Charlotte Flair, who\’ll defend the Women\’s Title against Ripley at WrestleMania 39.

    Mysterio went on about how he and Flair were both generational superstars, that they often get compared to their fathers but surpass them anyway

    When Dominik tried to smooth talk the record-breaking champion, Flair was quick to shut him down, saying that she \”has a real Latino man at home that calls me mami.\”

    On Twitter, Ripley\’s real-life boyfriend, AEW star Buddy Matthews, reminded fans that \’Mami\’ has her own \’Papi.\’

    Flair\’s reference to her husband Andrade El Idolo, did not go unnoticed by the former NXT Champion, who reacted on Twitter with a single emoji.

    Charlotte\’s father Ric Flair also reacted to Dominik\’s smooth-talking and encouraged the Judgment Day member to steer clear.

    Ripley, the first woman to win the Women\’s Royal Rumble from #1, will challenge Flair for the SmackDown Women\’s Championship at WrestleMania 39.

    Charlotte Flair on What Kept Her Away from WWE, Nacho Libre Officiating Her Wedding

  • WWE Expected to Pursue Several Top AEW Stars This Year

    WWE will seek out the very top names from All Elite Wrestling to add to their roster over the next 12 months, it has been claimed.

    Since AEW was founded in 2019, Tony Khan\’s promotion has welcomed plenty of former Superstars, thanks in part to WWE\’s mass layoffs of talent.

    FTR, Miro, Andrade El Idolo and Bryan Danielson are just some of the names in AEW who were calling WWE home not too long ago,

    Go Hard

    The next 12 months will see several current AEW deals expire, with World Champion MJF openly teasing leaving the promotion in January 2024.

    FTR, who are currently taking a break from AEW, are also expected to have their deals expire within a matter of months.

    On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that a lot of \”key deals\” will expire this year, and WWE is going to \”go hard at everyone good.\”

    On the flip side, Meltzer added that there are a lot of WWE contracts ending this year, and AEW will likely make a play for some names.

    With that said, it was added that right now the \”perception\” of WWE talent is to not go to AEW, despite the company\’s lighter schedule.

    AEW experienced several setbacks in 2022, at a time when the WWE product was noticeably improving under Triple H\’s leadership.

    Cody Rhodes

    While AEW is home to some WWE alum, the biggest move saw Cody Rhodes part ways with Tony Khan to return to WWE last year.

    On his show, Meltzer added that Cody\’s treatment since returning to WWE could prove to be an incentive for others to jump ship.

    Speaking about Kenny Omega, whose AEW contract is expected to end in late 2023, Meltzer said that Khan losing Omega would be \”really, really bad.\”

    It was noted that Omega is in a \”very good position\” as both AEW will offer him a lot to stay, and WWE will offer him plenty to join them.

    Details on Jon Moxley’s 5-Year AEW Contract Extension

  • Drew McIntyre is \”Already\” a Better Boxer than Jake Paul After One Training Session

    Jake Paul may not be a WWE Superstar just yet, but that hasn\’t stopped Drew McIntyre from calling him out.

    Paul\’s brother Logan made his in-ring debut at last year\’s WrestleMania, and has impressed fans with his ability in the ring.

    For his Crown Jewel match with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Logan recruited his brother, but the pair failed to dethrone the Tribal Chief.

    McIntyre Vs. Paul

    Away from YouTube, Jake Paul has been making a name for himself in the world, of boxing, earning victories over YouTuber AnEsonGib, NBA star Nate Robinson and former MMA fighters Ben Askren.

    Tyron Woodley and Anderson Silva have also fallen to Jake Paul, but these wins haven\’t impressed WWE\’s Scottish Warrior.

    This week, McIntyre joined Sheamus for an episode of Celtic Warrior Workouts, which saw them train with three-time world kickboxing champion Bernard “Swiftkick” Robinson.

    Sharing the video on social media, McIntyre took aim at Paul saying that he was already a better boxer after one training session.

    Sheamus responded to McIntyre\’s bold claim and encouraged WWE to book the match.

    Jake Paul\’s next fight will take place today when he faces off against Tommy Fury, the brother of lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

    Jake Paul in WWE

    After the success of Logan Paul in WWE, it isn\’t hard to see why some believe Jake could join the promotion.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour, Jake said he would consider joining WWE, but is concerned about the risk it could have on his boxing career.

    \”I’m down. I just don’t want to get injured. My brother tore his MCL; it’s crazy out there. So, I just don’t want it to derail my boxing and all that, but I’m down.

    “I love WWE. I love working with my brother. So that would definitely be something that could be on the horizon, for sure.”

    Jake Paul.

    As for Logan Paul, he is expected to face Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 39 this April.

    Jake Paul: “I’d Love to Have Paul Heyman in my Corner”

    h/t – Fightful

  • The Undertaker is No Longer the Highest-Ranked Character in a WWE Video Game

    WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker may have plenty of accolades to his name, but the Phenom recently lost his top spot in the annals of WWE\’s gaming history.

    At Survivor Series 2020, the Undertaker gave his \’Final Farewell\’ and retired from the ring after an iconic three-decade career in WWE.

    The Texan was rightfully inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, and has made appearances out of his gothic persona for WWE since his retirement.

    Gaming History

    As one of the most iconic WWE Superstars of all time, it is hardly surprising that The Undertaker has been part of several WWE video games.

    The Demon of Death Valley holds the record for appearing in the most officially licensed WWE games, with his first being WWF Super WrestleMania (NES & MegaDrive/Genesis) in 1992.

    Since then, The Undertaker has appeared in a total 64 video games (if you include WWE 2K23) and has featured on the cover for 18 games.

    Acknowledge Him

    For WWE SmackDown Vs. Raw 2011, WWE ranked The Undertaker with a staggering 98 rating, the highest rating of any WWE Superstar in gaming history.

    After over a decade though, that rating has now been superseded, as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns has been awarded a 99 rating for WWE 2K23.

    Reigns, one of two men to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, has appeared in 10 WWE games, as well as NCAA Football 2005.

    The standard edition of WWE 2K23 is set for release on March 17 and will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Microsoft Windows.

    Players who pre-order the Deluxe and Icon Editions of the game will have access from March 14 to get in on the action early.

    The Undertaker: I Wish I Could Work A Program With Roman Reigns

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

    GUNTHER has dominated as the WWE Intercontinental Champion for over 250 days, but the Austrian\’s future could be in the title picture of a bigger prize?

    Called up to the main roster in early 2022, GUNTHER captured the Intercontinental Championship in June, dethroning Ricochet.

    Recently, the leader of Imperium broke the record for the longest reign as Intercontinental Champion of the 21st Century.

    World Title Aspirations

    GUNTHER has shown no sign of ending his title reign prematurely, but bigger things may be in his future.

    Speaking to Louis Dangoor of GiveMeSport, the Wrestle Votes account shared that GUNTHER\’s work is loved by all the right people backstage.

    “Triple H loves him. They all love him ever since he came into his own at Clash at the Castle. I’m not just talking about Triple H, Road Dogg is big on him, Jason Jordan really likes him.”

    Wrestle Votes.

    Wrestle Votes added that fans shouldn\’t be surprised to see GUNTHER with some World Championship gold over the next 12 months.

    “Once WWE gets two World titles, you double the amount of people in the main event. Gunther is ready to step up. I expect by the summer to see him at the top of the card. I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins a World title. He might be next in line.”

    Wrestle Votes.

    WWE has been considering a new World Championship or splitting the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship for some time.

    Not long after Roman Reigns unified the two titles at WrestleMania 38, it was reported that the USA Network was unhappy with how the World Champion rarely appeared on Raw.

    GUNTHER\’s Immediate Future

    While GUNTHER could end 2023 as a World Champion, the Austrian powerhouse has more immediate concerns.

    Next month, a battle royal inside Madison Square Garden will decide GUNTHER\’s challenger at WrestleMania 39.

    The match will feature eight former Intercontinental Champions as well as eight former WWE World Champions.

    It has been reported that GUNTHER Vs. Drew McIntyre Vs. Sheamus is the plan for WrestleMania 39.

    Triple H Praises “Incredible” GUNTHER After Record-Breaking Rumble Performance

    h/t – NoDQ.com

  • Pat McAfee Reacts to Winning WON\’s Worst Wrestling Match of 2022 Award

    Pat McAfee may have won over fans with his enthusiastic commentary as part of WWE SmackDown, but his second match at WrestleMania 38 left a lot to be desired.

    Last April, McAfee competed at his first WrestleMania, defeating Austin Theory who had been accompanied by Mr. McMahon.

    In an impromptu match, McMahon defeated McAfee, thanks to interference by Theory.

    All three men would receive stunners by \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin to end the segment.

    Worst. Match. Ever!

    Given that he was facing a 76-year-old man, McAfee\’s bout with McMahon was far from a five-star classic.

    In the recent Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards, fans voted the match as the worst bout of 2022, beating Ric Flair\’s Final match from July by over 250 votes.

    On Twitter, McAfee reacted to his \’win,\’ and is pleased that he got to experience WrestleMania as a wrestler.

    Well… Me and Vince McMahon’s match at WrestleMania has officially been named ‘Worst (nonsanctioned) match of the year’ 

    The old man was MUCH stronger than anybody could’ve imagined.. Caught me off guard quite a bit (and I was Cheap Shotted to start it all).. Fun Fact.. The 1st time Steve gave Vince a stunner was in 1997… I was 10 years old, from a working class community, and it made me fall in love with the business. Wonder if it would be magical to get one last BAHGAWD in Stone Cold’s State? But… How do we get there? OHHHH.. He has to abuse his power a little bit… ohhhhhh

    When I was invited back in the ring.. I thought I was gonna get to celebrate Stone Cold finally ending the run with Vince.. ‘The Common Beer Drinking Employee’ has finally put the old ‘Power abusing Billionaire Boss’ away.. I was LIVING A DREAM whilst they wrapped (in my opinion) the greatest/most impactful storyline in the history of wrestling. BUT… “NEVER TRUST THE TEXAS RATTLESNAKE PAT

    My brain may have been used during the planning of all of this.. So I appreciate the award.. obviously. I’m not a movie guy.. I didn’t watch shows.. I don’t play video games.. From an entertainment standpoint.. Football and Wrestling are literally the only 2 things I’ve ever consistently watched/loved for my whole life. Cheers to you all. I’ll remember that night, in Jerry World, forever. WHADDDD”

    Other nominees for Worst Match of 2022 included the 2022 Men\’s Royal Rumble, the All Out 2022 Casino Royale Ladder Match, and Tyrus\’ NWA World Championship victory.

    What\’s Next for Pat?

    At the Royal Rumble, McAfee made a one-night return to the commentary table, as he has spent months with ESPN\’s College GameDay.

    After not appearing on SmackDown since then, McAfee took to Twitter to reflect on his future with the promotion.

    In the said tweet, Pat questioned whether he would be willing to work with WWE\’s potential new owners, but did not name which names listed as possible buyers would make him reconsider his position.

    Pat McAfee Was Originally Supposed to Return in WWE Royal Rumble Match

  • WWE Senior Vice President Terminated Over HR Violation

    WWE\’s corporate world has seen a lot of changes over the past month, and now one Senior Vice President is no longer with the promotion.

    In January, Vince McMahon made his shocking return to WWE, following his retirement in July 2022 over alleged activity with female employees.

    McMahon\’s return coincided with the resignation of his daughter, Stephanie McMahon, who had been appointed Chairwoman following Vince\’s departure.

    Vince\’s return also resulted in several resignations from WWE\’s Board of Directors, including Man Jit Singh, who led the investigation into the billionaire\’s alleged actions last year.

    Termination

    WWE has parted ways with James Kimball, once WWE\’s Senior Vice President of Talent Operations and Strategy, Fightful Select has learned.

    It was said that an HR violation led to his immediate termination which took place last week.

    In an update, it was stressed that an HR violation is relatively broad and could mean a variety of things.

    Fightful stated that it could mean that no one else was directly affected by what he did which resulted in his termination.

    Kimball had been with the company for two years, working on the NIL program, among other projects, and had spent a decade with the UFC.

    The former SVP worked closely with Triple H during his tenure and only recently was speaking to free agents about joining the promotion.

    Fightful clarified that Kimball\’s termination was not a case of Vince McMahon making a firing upon his return to the promotion.

    Reaction

    Several WWE Superstars, as well as some UFC fighters, reached out to Fightful to say that they were surprised by his departure.

    One talent said that they were \”shocked\” that Kimball was out, while several others inquired about the details behind the move.

    Another wrestler stated that there was a time when it appeared that Kimball would be with WWE for years, if not decades to come.

    Ex-WWE Champion Praises “Really Good Person” Stephanie McMahon After Resignation

  • Pat McAfee Uncertain About WWE Future Amid Ongoing Sales Talks

    Pat McAfee has proven to be a hit with fans as part of the WWE SmackDown commentary team, but will a new owner push Pat out of the company?

    The former NFL punter began serving as a guest commentator for WWE NXT TakeOver events in 2018, before signing with the promotion the following February.

    In 2021, McAfee was moved to the SmackDown commentary table, but has been absent as of late due to his commitments to ESPN\’s College Game Day.

    In addition to commentary, McAfee has had a handful of matches in WWE, with his most recent bout seeing him defeat Baron Corbin at Summerslam 2022.

    Unsure

    At the WWE 2023 Royal Rumble, McAfee made his surprise return to commentary but did not appear on the following edition of SmackDown.

    In a tweet, McAfee reflected on various parts of his life, including his role with WWE.

    The Smackdown commentator said that while he loves working for WWE, the possibility of a new owner could make him reconsider his position with the promotion.

    \”Baby girl on the way… what’s that mean for my future with @WWE? I LOVE it but, they’re allegedly gonna be sold, who’s buying them? Do I want to work/make money for those people?\”

    Pat McAfee.

    Other Plans

    Of course, WWE is just part of McAfee\’s life, and he has various successful ventures away from the ring.

    Speaking about College Game Day, McAfee called it a \”good time\” but acknowledged that there was no long-term deal in place.

    McAfee also spoke about reports of a defamation lawsuit from Bret Farve, saying that he is \”allegedly\” being sued.

    Pat McAfee Was Originally Supposed to Return in WWE Royal Rumble Match

  • MJF\’s AEW Dynamite Promo About Fiance Leaving Him Was Not a Work (Report)

    AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman\’s recent comments about his engagement to Naomi Rosenblum being ended were not just part of the show during Dynamite.

    During Dynamite, MJF hyped up his upcoming title defense at AEW Revolution against Bryan Danielson, which will be the promotion\’s first sixty-minute Iron Man match.

    The upcoming title defense will mark MJF\’s first title defense on Pay-Per-View since capturing the AEW World Championship last November at Full Gear 2022.

    Ended Engagement

    During his promo on Dynamite, MJF called himself a guy who has got stranded by, and looked down upon by everyone he once looked up to.

    The Salt of the Earth added that he met a girl (Rosenblum) who was his only source of comfort, only for her to leave him as well.

    This comment left fans questioning whether their engagement has really ended, and both MJF and Rosenblum have unfollowed one another on Instagram.

    Taking to Twitter, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful confirmed that MJF\’s comments about his engagement being ended by Rosenblum was honest.

    MJF and Rosenblum announced their engagement in September of last year, with the always-in-character AEW star saying that other women shouldn\’t worry, and that \”just cuz there’s a goalie doesn’t mean you can’t score.\”

    What Else Was Said?

    In his promo, Friedman also addressed Bryan Danielson\’s children, saying he would rip their father\’s arm out of its socket and ensure he could never play with them again.

    He stated that during their Iron Man match, he would make sure that he could never use his arm to pick them up again and that he would also land multiple shots to his head as a present.

    Danielson interrupted the promo by taking MJF down, resulting in a brawl that had to be separated by referees and security guards.

    MJF Asked to Sign a Female Fan’s Chest – Hilarity Ensues (Watch)

  • GUNTHER to Face Battle Royal Winner at WWE MSG Event

    20 Superstars, including eight former WWE World Champions, will look to earn a shot at GUNTHER\’s Intercontinental Championship next month.

    Debuting on WWE\’s main roster in early 2022, GUNTHER was a stand-out star of last year, and captured the Intercontinental Championship in June.

    Recently, the Austrian broke the record for the longest tenure in a traditional Royal Rumble match, reaching over 70 minutes and shattering the record set by Rey Mysterio in 2006.

    WWE has announced a special attraction match for the company\’s upcoming return to Madison Square Garden:

    The names listed for the match are as follows:

    Drew McIntyre, Sheamus, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods,) Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, Finn Balor, The Miz, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio, Johnny Gargano, Omos, Dexter Lumis, Bronson Reed, Rick Boogs, Santos Escobar, Braun Strowman, Ricochet, Baron Corbin and Karrion Kross.

    Out of the combatants, eight (McIntyre, Sheamus, Kingston, Mysterio, Lashley, Balor, Miz, and Strowman) have held World Championship gold on the main roster.

    Eight of the Superstars (McIntyre, Kingston, Mysterio, Lashley, Balor, Miz, Strowman, and Ricochet) are former WWE Intercontinental Champions.

  • Jon Moxley Makes History On AEW Dynamite with Latest Victory

    Jon Moxley already has multiple records to his name in All Elite Wrestling, and now the Blackpool Combat Club member has another accolade.

    Since arriving in AEW in 2019, Moxley has become a staple of the brand and is seen as one of the most loyal stars the company employs.

    Despite plans for a vacation in late 2022, Moxley cut his time-away short to return following the suspension of CM Punk and the Elite following last year\’s All Out

    New Record

    On this week\’s edition of AEW Dynamite, Moxley defeated Evil Uno, dispatching of the Dark Order member with extreme brutality.

    With this win, Moxley has accomplished 100 victories in AEW, the first person in the company\’s four-year history to do so.

    Post-match, Moxley refused to break the hold, which brought out Alex Reynolds and John Silver, and the former World Champion had backup with BCC member Claudio Castagnoli.

    It was the arrival of \’Hangman\’ Adam Page that escalated things, and the Cowboy pummeled Moxley, busting him open as the show went off the air.

    Page and Moxley will face off at AEW Revolution 2023 next week in a Texas Death Match.

    Record Breaker

    Achieving 100 wins on AEW programming is an impressive accolade, but is by no means Moxley\’s only record.

    The former WWE Superstar also holds the record for the most reigns as AEW World Champion, holding the title three times (as well as one Interim title reign.)

    Moxley\’s three title reigns have also given him the record for the most days as AEW World Champion, holding the title for a collective 347 days (406 days if you include the reign as Interim AEW World Champion.)