SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Dijak Shows Off Finger Injury from NXT Vengeance Day

    Dijak didn\’t become the new WWE NXT North American Champion at the recent Vengeance Day event, but did show his toughness in the ring.

    In the opening match of the night, Dijak hoped to capture his first title in WWE when he faced off against NXT North American Champion Wes Lee.

    Going just over 17 minutes, the two put on a hard-hitting affair which saw Lee (who has held the title since October) get the pinfall victory.

    The Injury

    While it was Lee who got the victory, the main story coming out of this match is Dijak\’s finger and his tenacity for continuing to wrestle after his injury

    On social media, the former RETRIBUTION member showed off his nasty injury.

    There’s no word yet on if Dijak will miss any ring time after suffering this injury.

    Even if he does miss time in the ring, the former T-BAR is expected to continue his feud with Tony D\’Angelo and Channing \’Stacks\’ Lorenzo, who interfered during the NXT North American Championship match.

    According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Shawn Michaels informed Bruce Prichard that Dijak\’s finger is not broken.

    Dijak in WWE

    Though WWE had plans to sign Dijak in early 2017, a legal threat from ROH (who he was under contract to) led WWE to rescind that offer.

    The following month in February, Dijak opted not to re-sign with ROH, and was signed to WWE that September.

    Competing as Dominik Dijakovic, Dijak would be a solid performer on the gold brand, but never captured the NXT or NXT North American titles.

    In September 2020, Dijakovic was called up to the main roster as T-BAR as part of the doomed Retribution angle.

    After the group split in early 2021, Dijakovic would hover around WWE Main Event before his return to WWE in late 2022.

    WWE NXT Vengeance Day Results (2/4/23): Bron Breakker Successfully Retains NXT Championship Against Grayson Waller Inside of a Steel Cage

  • Tony Khan Is \”Certainly Open To\” Possible WWE/AEW Crossover

    Could WWE and All Elite Wrestling one day put their differences aside and work together for a crossover supershow? Tony Khan hopes so.

    WWE\’s mantra has infamously been to not play with others, and has for decades refused to work with other promotions.

    That attitude has softened somewhat over the last year, with Impact\’s Mickie James competing in the 2022 Women\’s Royal Rumble.

    Last month also saw WWE\’s Karl Anderson be allowed to compete at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17.

    WWE-AEW Crossover

    In the four years since being founded, fans have speculated on what a dream card between AEW and WWE talent would look like.

    Tony Khan was a recent guest of the WTF with Marc Maron podcast and when asked, expressed his interest in a crossover show between the two sides.

    \”It’s something I would certainly be open to, and I think it’s an interesting thing for the future. It’s not something that’s ever really been done. They’ve kind of existed in their own space. We are working with a lot of wrestling promotions.\”

    Tony Khan.

    Khan compared the situation to Marvel and DC Comics, saying it\’d be a crossover that fans would have not seen before.

    The AEW President did admit that things \”would get very political\” with talent from both sides wanting to come out on top.

    Crossing Over

    While WWE and AEW haven\’t held a show (yet) the relationship between the two sides isn\’t as frosty as one may expect.

    In 2019, Billy Gunn, who had signed with AEW, was allowed to attend the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony for DX\’s induction, joking on-camera that Vince McMahon couldn\’t fire him.

    For last year\’s celebration of 20 years of John Cena, multiple AEW stars including Bryan Danielson and Chris Jericho praised Cena in videos aired on Raw.

    AEW and WWE talent being backstage at each other\’s companies is not uncommon either, with Ricky Starks being backstage to support his mentor Cody Rhodes at last weekend\’s Royal Rumble.

    Tony Khan Believes it is Impossible to Please Everyone in AEW

    h/t – 411 Mania

  • WWE Interested in \’Monetizing Ring Assets\’ with Sponsorships

    Who will be walking down the KFC Deluxe Bucket ramp, stepping between the Castrol GTX-endorsed ropes to compete in the Wendy\’s new 5-tier Baconator ring at WrestleMania 39?

    WWE, like any business, is about making money, and sponsorships have been a huge part of the company\’s bottom line for years.

    At WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2021, fans saw a lumberjack match sponsored by Netflix\’s Army of the Dead, in which \’zombies\’ from the film crashed the event.

    Sponsorships

    At WWE Royal Rumble 2023, fans saw the first-ever Pitch Black match which was won by Bray Wyatt, and sponsored by Mountain Dew.

    Last Saturday\’s Rumble didn\’t just see that match be sponsored, but the official Royal Rumble clock was sponsored by Applebees.

    During WWE\’s fourth-quarter earnings call, WWE CEO Nick Khan was asked whether WWE could possibly look at having sponsorships for different parts of the stage and ringside area.

    \”Yes, to your question about monetizing the ring assets. It’s something we’re taking a deep dive into now and that we want to do. In terms of what’s driven it, I think it all started with Stephanie McMahon and changing the culture of our sales group, from changing from a ‘maybe’ to a ‘yes.\’

    \”It’s something we’re taking a deep dive into.\”

    WWE CEO Nick Khan on monetizing ring assets.

    \”When Mountain Dew and Pepsi pitched us the idea of sponsoring a match, I think it was done, was ‘absolutely we’ll do it,’ and then a conversation with Triple H, our head of creative, about ‘hey, we can probably do this, right?’ Which Triple H and our creative team made every accommodation to get it done.”

    Earlier this week, WWE Senior Vice President and Head of Global Sales and Partnerships Craig Stimmel told the Hollywood Reporter that another sponsored match will take place at WrestleMania 39.

    Pitch Black Match Confirmed for WWE Royal Rumble

    h/t – Sportskeeda

  • Vince McMahon has \”Declared\” he Will Step Down Again If In WWE\’s Best Interest

    Vince McMahon\’s return to WWE may be a short one, according to the company\’s sole CEO Nick Khan.

    The billionaire\’s return less than a month ago came less than six months after his shocking retirement in July of last year.

    McMahon reportedly strong-armed his way back into WWE, threatening to vote down any sales offers of negotiated TV deals if he was not brought back to the company.

    Second Retirement

    For decades, it was accepted that Vince McMahon would never retire, which made his actions last July all the more shocking.

    Many (including those on WWE\’s Board of Directors) believe that McMahon\’s return is the wrong call, though the rise in stock price following his return says otherwise.

    Speaking during the 2022 Q4 earnings call, WWE CEO Nick Khan said that McMahon will ultimately do what is best for WWE.

    \”Yes [he would step down from his sole role as Executive Chairman.] Without question. He’s declared it to the board. He’s declared it to us in management. It’s all about shareholder value. Obviously, he is a shareholder. So it’s not about what role he’ll have. It’s about maximizing that value opportunity.\”

    Nick Khan.

    The Sale

    At the time of his return, it was noted that McMahon is back to facilitate a sale of the promotion.

    While some have been dubious that McMahon doesn\’t have grander ambitions than merely overseeing the sale, Vince has kept away from WWE\’s TV tapings and creative meetings.

    Names interested in WWE include Comcast, FOX, Disney, Netflix, Amazon, the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund, and Shahid & Tony Khan.

    WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Was Much Easier Without Vince McMahon

  • The Rock\’s Mother Ata Johnson Involved in Serious Car Accident

    Dwayne Johnson\’s mother is fortunate to be alive after being involved in a serious vehicular accident.

    On Instagram, the Hollywood A-Lister shared a photo of his mother\’s wrecked Cadillac Escalade that suffered heavy damage to the front passenger side.

    \”Angels of mercy watched over my mom as she was in a car crash late last night.\”

    The Rock.

    In his post, Johnson said his mom is doing okay, and spoke about his mother\’s tenacity, as she has survived lung cancer, a tough marriage, and an attempt to take her own life.

    The Brahma Bull also encouraged fans to hug their parents hard \”cos you never know when you’ll get that 3am call we never want to get.\”

    Ata Johnson is Dwayne\’s remaining parent, after the death of his father \’Soulman\’ Rocky Johnson in January 2020.

    Ata Johnson

    The daughter of the \’High Chief\’ Peter Maivia, Ata is part of the famed Anoa\’I wrestling family, and married her husband Rocky Johnson in 1978, though the couple divorced in 2003.

    While not a wrestler like so many members of her family, Ata Johnson has appeared for WWE in the past, including at WrestleMania 38 last April.

    More recently, Ata was in the crowd for WWE Royal Rumble 2023, though her son did not appear at the event as many had hoped.

    Ata\’s granddaughter Simone performs today in WWE NXT under the name Ava Raine.

    The Rock Will Be A Presenter at 2023 Grammy Awards

  • WWE Reports Record Earnings In 2022 Financial Results

    2022 was truly an unprecedented year for WWE, but no amount of returns, releases, or retirements could stop the promotion from making a fortune.

    This week, WWE shared its fourth-quarter and full-year fiscal reports, and business is certainly booming.

    Fourth Quarter

    For the final quarter of 2022, (October to December) WWE revenue was $325.3 million, an increase of 5% over Q4 2021.

    Operating income was $62.7 million, a decrease of 22% over the previous fourth quarter.

    Each WWE premium live event (Extreme Rules and Survivor Series) was the most viewed event in its history with increases of 36% and 46%, respectively, in viewership.

    November WWE Crown Jewel event was the most-viewed international event in WWE history, surpassing WWE Clash at the Castle from 2022 Q3.

    2022 In Full

    WWE\’s impressive fourth quarter was just part of an incredible year for the company in 2022.

    Year-end revenue increased 18% on 2021 to $1.3 billion, the highest in the company\’s history.

    In a statement, WWE heralded the record revenue as down to \”increased monetization of content, the return to a full year of ticketed live events and the staging of an additional large-scale international event.\”

    Operating income increased 11% to a recorded $283.3 million.

    WWE returned $75.7 million of capital to shareholders, including share repurchases and dividends.

    Live events more than doubled in revenue (2021 bringing in $57.8 million to 2022\’s $123.1 million) though that will have been affected by WWE going without live crowds for the first half of 2021.

    A full report on WWE\’s impressive 2022 can be found here.

    Top WWE Merchandise Sellers Reportedly Revealed

  • WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Was Much Easier Without Vince McMahon

    WWE\’s latest Premium Live Event has received rave reviews from fans, and was said to be much easier without Vince McMahon backstage.

    Last Saturday\’s WWE Royal Rumble 2023 saw Cody Rhodes and Rhea Ripley punch their tickets to WrestleMania 39, winning the Men\’s and Women\’s Rumble matches.

    In the main event, Roman Reigns retained his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship over Kevin Owens.

    The post-match segment that resulted in Sami Zayn (and Jey Uso) exiting the Bloodline has been praised as one of WWE\’s best stories in years.

    Without McMahon

    Last Saturday\’s Premium Live Event was the first PLE since the return of Vince McMahon, who didn\’t attend the show himself, Fightful Select reports.

    One talent who spoke to Fightful said that this year\’s Rumble was the easiest the annual event has been \”in a long time\” and cited the lack of McMahon as the reason.

    That same Superstar said that you can\’t really count 2021 towards that because of COVID, but that this year was a dream compared to last year\’s nightmare.

    Another source added that while people are not \’afraid\’ to bring up Vince\’s name, generally most haven\’t really asked much since Triple H, Nick Khan and Kevin Dunn held meetings.

    Those meetings last month assured talent that despite McMahon\’s return as Executive Chairman, he will not have influence over Creative or Talent Relations.

    The only complaints that Fightful heard were about the Hardy performance cutting into the time of others, and some minor transitional things that they believe the current regime will get used to.

    Looking Ahead

    With the WWE Royal Rumble 2023 being a huge success to fans and those in the company, the promotion looks to keep that momentum going.

    WWE\’s next PLE will be the Elimination Chamber event on Saturday, February 18, which will be WWE\’s first major event in Montreal in over 13 years.

    A U.S. title Chamber match, as well as a Chamber match to determine Raw Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair\’s WrestleMania opponent have already been announced.

    It is reported that the main event will see hometown hero Sami Zayn challenge Roman Reigns for his title.

    WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Main Event Was A “Curtain Sellout” Backstage

  • Top WWE Merchandise Sellers Reportedly Revealed

    WWE is doing serious business on the road to WrestleMania 39, but who are the biggest names when it comes to merchandise?

    These days, merchandise sellers may not be WWE\’s primary source of income (thanks to the promotion\’s lucrative TV deals and Saudi contract) but still earn WWE a hefty sum.

    More important merchandise sellers are a quantitative way for WWE to see who is the most popular among the fans.

    Top Merchandise Sellers

    With WrestleMania 39 drawing near, every WWE Superstar will hope to get the attention of the promotion\’s higher-ups by moving a serious amount of merchandise.

    On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer named the stars who are shining above the rest of the roster in terms of merch.

    \”A lot of the big characters are very over when it comes to selling merchandise right now. Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, I\’m sure Sami Zayn. They\’re hot. That\’s the deal. Things look good for them going into WrestleMania season.\”

    Dave Meltzer.

    WrestleMania 39

    We already know plans for two of WWE\’s top merch sellers for WrestleMania, as Cody Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal title this April.

    As for Sami Zayn, it has been rumored that he and Kevin Owens will challenge Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos at WrestleMania 39.

    It\’s worth bearing in mind that these rumors began before Jey\’s exit from the Bloodline at last weekend\’s Royal Rumble event.

    As for Bray Wyatt, all signs are pointing to an eventual clash with Uncle Howdy (played by his brother Bo Dallas) at WrestleMania.

    AEW Theme Song Plays at WWE’s Royal Rumble Super Store
    h/t – Sportskeeda

  • Huge Intercontinental Title Triple-Threat Planned for WrestleMania 39 (Report)

    Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER\’s reign may be in serious jeopardy if WWE goes ahead with plans for a blockbuster triple-threat match at WrestleMania 39.

    The Austrian powerhouse captured the title on WWE SmackDown in June of last year and is the longest-reigning champion since 2005.

    If GUNTHER holds on to the gold for another week, he will surpass Shelton Benjamin\’s reign and become the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion of this millennium.

    WrestleMania 39

    GUNTHER\’s performance since coming to the main roster has been heralded by fans, as seen with the response to his record-shattering performance at last weekend\’s Royal Rumble.

    While it was previously reported that WWE was planning on GUNTHER Vs Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 39, that no longer appears to be the case.

    Wrestle Votes reports that WWE is considering an epic triple-threat in which the leader of Imperium will defend his title against Drew McIntyre and Sheamus.

    The Intercontinental Championship

    McIntyre is a former IC Champion, winning the title in December 2009 and holding the gold until May 2010.

    Though he was suspended (in storyline) and stripped of the title by then SmackDown GM Teddy Long, an edict by Mr. McMahon undid Long\’s actions, and WWE counts McIntyre\’s run as one, uninterrupted reign.

    Sheamus is yet to hold the Intercontinental Championship, which is the only title he needs to complete the Grand Slam.

    Both McIntyre and Sheamus have spoken previously about wanting to be the one to dethrone the Austrian, and Sheamus\’ pursuit of the title led to the much-acclaimed match at WWE Clash at the Castle last September.

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

  • Another Law Firm Investigating WWE & Vince McMahon On Behalf of Shareholders

    Vince McMahon is back and in charge of WWE once more, but the Chairman isn\’t exactly feeling the love.

    McMahon returned to WWE\’s Board of Directors less than a month ago and has since been appointed as Executive Chairman.

    The 77-year-old\’s return has seen several departures, including his daughter Stephanie, and Man Jit Singh, the board member who oversaw last year\’s investigation into the billionaire.

    Investigation

    It is believed by some that McMahon\’s strong-arming his way back into WWE was in violation of rules set out by the company.

    Bronstein, Gewirtz, & Grossman announced this week that they are investigating WWE for \”violations of the securities laws\” on behalf of WWE investors.

    The investigation will look into “whether WWE and/or the company\’s officers and directors violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the above-alleged misconduct.”

    More Investigations

    This investigation by Bronstein, Gewirtz, & Grossman is just the latest in a growing list of investigations looking at Mcmahon\’s return.

    It has previously been reported that Detroit’s Police and Fire Retirement System filed a lawsuit against McMahon after being voted back on to the WWE Board of Directors.

    Another lawsuit into McMahon has been filed in Delaware’s Chancery Court, alleging McMahon pushed aside the board to install himself as chairman again illegally. 

    A separate lawsuit, suing over McMahon\’s alleged history of paying to cover up sexual harassment accusations, also questions the legitimacy of McMahon\’s return to WWE.

    It was reported that McMahon (WWE\’s majority shareholder) was ready to vote against any sales offers or TV rights deals if he was not brought back to the promotion.

    Vince McMahon Has Not Attended Any TV Tapings or Creative Meetings Yet (Report)

  • Brock Lesnar Got Heat Backstage Over Unplanned WWE Royal Rumble Spots

    Brock Lesnar\’s time in the 2023 Men\’s Royal Rumble match was short and sweet, but earned the Beast Incarnate some backstage heat.

    After returning to WWE programming on the Raw is XXX episode, costing Bobby Lashley his United States Championship match against Austin Theory.

    Lashley (who returned to WWE in 2018 in the hopes of facing Lesnar,) got a (controversial) win over Brock at Royal Rumble 2022, with Lesnar getting his win back (also in controversial circumstances) at WWE Crown Jewel. Entering the Royal Rumble last weekend, Lesnar scored three eliminations before his shocking elimination by Lashley.

    The former WWE Universal Champion lasted less than three minutes in the Rumble match but earned heat backstage over his actions after his elimination. Fightful Select reports that while a post-elimination freakout by Lesnar was planned, some of what happened caught many by surprise.

    Some in the ring were not prepared for Lesnar\’s spot with the steel steps, and the spot where Lesnar threw a piece of the announcer\’s table in the ring was also unplanned.

    The spot that earned Lesnar some heat was an unplanned situation when referee Eddie Orengo was thrown over the barricade.

    Sources in WWE told Fightful that it was initially believed that Orengo may have injured his foot, and his status remains unclear at this time.

    Orengo was supposed to raise the hand of Cody Rhodes, the winner of the Men\’s Rumble match, but that was changed as he needed to sell Lesnar\’s attack.

    No Punishment?

    While Brock\’s actions caught many off-guard, the former Universal Champion is unlikely to face any serious consequences.

    One source told Fightful \”heat is a relative term for Brock Lesnar. He\’s not going to get in trouble.\”

    The source added that WWE is under a new regime, but Lesnar\’s standing seemingly stays the same, and said that while not everyone was mad backstage, some were.

    Looking Back At Brock Lesnar’s Dominant Run Through The WWE King Of The Ring Tournament

  • Charlotte Flair Only Learned Of Title Win While at the Final SmackDown of 2022

    WWE SmackDown Women\’s Championship Charlotte Flair is once again back on top, but her win came out of the blue.

    Flair returned to WWE programming on the December 30, episode of WWE SmackDown on FOX, where she dethroned Ronda Rousey.

    The match came after Rousey had already retained her title against Raquel Rodriguez, and marked Flair\’s first appearance on WWE TV since May 2022.

    Out of the Blue

    Flair\’s win was a shock to fans, as there had been no inclination of her return, but it also came as a shock to Flair.

    Speaking to Ryan Satin on the Out of Character podcast, Flair recalled learning of her latest championship victory.

    \”I didn\’t find out I was winning the title until I got there. I didn\’t have gear with me. My amazing cleaning lady brought me my gear. I should have known better. I\’m coming to a wrestling show, I just brought my outfit.

    \”I thought it was just going to be a walkout surprise because I had been gone for so long, I really didn\’t need to be any major fireworks, but when I got there they were like, \’You need your gear.\’ I got the call at maybe 5ish that I needed gear, right before I got to the arena. She got to the arena around 7, 7:15.\”

    The final SmackDown of 2022 took place in Tampa, Florida, not far from Flair\’s residence where her gear was in Orlando.

    The Future

    Flair did not expect to be SmackDown Women\’s Champion at this point in time, but the Queen is on the Road to WrestleMania 39.

    During this week\’s Raw, Rhea Ripley, the winner of the 2023 Women\’s Royal Rumble match, selected Flair as her WrestleMania 39 opponent.

    The two previously faced off at WrestleMania 36, where Flair dethroned the Australian to capture the NXT Women\’s Championship.

    Ric Flair Believes Charlotte vs. Rhea Ripley Should Be A WrestleMania Main Event

    h/t – Fightful

  • Dave Bautista Questions Why He Never Gets Rom-Com Movie Offers: \”Am I That Unattractive?\”

    Former WWE Superstar Dave Bautista has made a name for himself in the world of Hollywood, but only under specific types of roles.

    With his impressive physique, the Animal is no stranger to action films, such as his role as Drax in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or as evil henchman Mr. Hinx in James Bond\’s Spectre.

    Unappealing

    While Bautista has joined the likes of John Cena and Dwayne Johnson as a wrestler-turned-actor, the former World Champion is yet to show his more romantic side.

    Speaking to Page Six, Bautista questioned why offers for a rom-com continue to allude him.

    “I know I’m not your typical rom-com lead. I’m a little rough around the edges. But I always, you know, I look in the mirror and I say, I ask myself, ‘Am I that unattractive? Is there something that unappealing about me that excludes me from these parts?’”

    Dave Bautista.

    The Animal\’s next film, Knock at the Cabin, which sees Bautista and others try to thwart the apocalypse by forcing a family to make an impossible choice, lands in cinemas this Friday.

    Genres

    Bautista may be best known for his action roles, but the future WWE Hall of Famer has been able to push outside that genre.

    For Blade Runner 2049, the retired wrestler showed a more subdued side, and will show yet another different side in Knock at the Cabin.

    Bautista has been able to flex his comedy muscles with projects like Stuber, and his years as a beloved babyface in WWE prepared him well for family movies like My Spy.

    Batista on Acting: I Never Wanted to be The Next Rock

  • The Rock Not Competing at WrestleMania 39 \”Not a Work\” – Door Remains Open for 2024 (Report)

    Is Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson being honest when he says that he doesn\’t feel he\’s ready for a match at WrestleMania 39?

    In a word, yes.

    For years, fans have speculated on a possible match between the People\’s Champion and his cousin Roman Reigns.

    It was reported last year that WWE was actively pursuing the match for this year\’s WrestleMania 39 event.

    Not a Work

    Earlier this month, it was reported that Johnson had informed WWE that he did not feel like he could get in an adequate ring shape in time for WrestleMania.

    Of course, this statement has caused fans to believe he is going to compete, and that this claim is just to try and throw fans off the proverbial \’scent.

    Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer confirmed that when The Rock says he\’s not wrestling, he means it.

    \”Dwayne could be there [WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, California] in some form or fashion. I mean there are some people going \’don\’t you think it\’s a swerve?\’ It\’s not a swerve. I mean I\’ve been told this for a while. Of course, there\’s always the idea that maybe, there\’s a secret. Like the Pat McAfee thing [referencing the commentator\’s return at last Saturday\’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event.] Only a few people know about that. But we\’re past that point.

    \”Cody won the Royal Rumble, he\’s getting that championship match. It ain\’t going to be Dwayne anymore.\”

    Dave Meltzer.

    Other Plans

    The Rock could still appear at WWE\’s showcase of the immortals, even if a match is off the table.

    On his show, Meltzer reiterated that Johnson will not be wrestling at WrestleMania 39, but said the option remains open for down the line.

    \”Dwayne\’s not wrestling anyone else on this show. Unless it\’s a three-second match like he did with [Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32.] He could go do that. He could do an angle if he wants to. But he did not feel like he had the time [to prepare for a match.] Which is basically what the story was. He did not feel that he had the time to get in the shape he needed to be in to do a WrestleMania-caliber main event. And the door is open for next year, if he has more time.\”

    \”The door is open for next year, if he has more time.\”

    Johnson\’s seven-second win over Rowan in 2016 was an attempt for the Brahma Bull to set the record for the fastest victory at a WrestleMania.

    ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin has Turned Down Offer for WrestleMania 39 Match (Report)

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

  • \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin has Turned Down Offer for WrestleMania 39 Match (Report)

    It seems like WrestleMania 39 will come and go without a match from \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin, despite his impressive showing last year.

    At WrestleMania 38, Austin competed in his first match since March 2003, defeating Kevin Owens in the main event of WrestleMania: Saturday.

    It has been reported that WWE was trying to coax Austin into another match this year, with names like Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar being considered opponents.

    Not Happening

    With WrestleMania 39 drawing closer, WWE has yet to give any indication that Austin will compete at the show.

    On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Austin has no intention on competing this April.

    \”They did talk about Austin. As far as Austin goes, Steve might be at the show. I mean I wouldn\’t be surprised at all. He might do something on the show, but he did in fact turn down wrestling at the show. He was offered Brock Lesnar, he was offered Roman Reigns. Probably, he could have named his opponent if he wanted to do it with anybody else. But he did not choose to wrestle on the show.\”

    Dave Meltzer.

    Austin at WrestleMania

    If a match isn\’t happening for the Rattlesnake, that doesn\’t mean that Austin won\’t be featured at WrestleMania.

    As one of (if not the) biggest stars in wrestling, WWE would be wise to have Austin on the show, even if he doesn\’t wrestle.

    Austin has proven himself to be a referee at WrestleMania, officiating Brock Lesnar Vs. Goldberg (WrestleMania 20,) and Jerry Lawler vs Michael Cole (WrestleMania 27.)

    The Texas Rattlesnake could also serve as a guest host, as we saw by The Rock (WrestleMania 27,) Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania 30,) Alexa Bliss (WrestleMania 35), and the combination of Hogan and Titus O\’Neil (WrestleMania 37.)

    Kevin Owens on His WrestleMania Match With Steve Austin: ‘I Still Don’t Know How That Happened’

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

  • WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Main Event Was A \”Curtain Sellout\” Backstage

    Sami Zayn\’s turn at the end of Royal Rumble 2023 captivated the 51,000+ fans in the Alamodome, millions watching worldwide, and the WWE roster and crew.

    In the main event, Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns retained his title against Kevin Owens, and the Bloodline continued their beatdown post-match.

    When Zayn refused to attack his best friend, he instead struck Reigns with a steel chair, and was beaten down by the Bloodline (sans Jey Uso) for his insubordination.

    Curtain Sellout

    The main event of WWE Royal Rumble 2023 and what transpired after the match has been heralded by many as some of the company\’s best storytelling in years.

    The segment was also a hit backstage, with Fightful Select reporting that it was a \”curtain sellout\” with wrestlers and the crew gathering around monitors to see what happened.

    It has been reported that WWE\’s plan for this angle will see Zayn challenge the Tribal Chief at next month\’s WWE Elimination Chamber event, in Sami\’s hometown of Montreal.

    During this week\’s Raw, 2023 Men\’s Royal Rumble match winner Cody Rhodes confirmed his plans to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 39.

    Rumble Backstage

    After the disaster of last year\’s Royal Rumble (which resulted in Shane McMahon being fired) a lot was riding on this year\’s event.

    Fightful adds that the mood backstage was \”very laid back\” and that the children of several wrestlers were having fun behind the scenes.

    The WWE Royal Rumble Premium Live Event went a bit over time, as it was scheduled for four hours and lasted four hours and 12 minutes.

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

  • Bianca Belair\’s WrestleMania Opponent Will Be Decided in the Elimination Chamber

    Six WWE Superstars will fight next month inside the Elimination Chamber, with a prize of WrestleMania-sized proportions on the line

    During this week\’s Raw, 2023 Women\’s Royal Rumble winner Rhea Ripley announced that she will face SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair this April.

    Ripley explained that she plans on getting payback for Flair defeating her at WrestleMania 36, and winning the NXT Women\’s Championship in the process.

    Elimination Chamber

    Ripley Vs. Flair is set for WrestleMania 39, which leaves Bianca Belair without a dance partner for the biggest event of the year.

    During Raw, it was confirmed that Belair\’s WrestleMania opponent will be decided inside the Elimination Chamber next month.

    Adam Pearce named four women who have already qualified by being the four final women in the Women\’s Royal Rumble match: Raquel Rodriguez, Asuka, Liv Morgan, and Nikki Cross.

    Next week, another spot will be filled when Candice LeRae, Piper Niven, Mia \’Michin\’ Yim, and the returning Carmella, compete in fatal four-way action.

    Women\’s Elimination Chamber

    Originally a match-type solely for the men-folk, it wouldn\’t be until 2018 that fans saw their first Women\’s Elimination Chamber match.

    At the 2018 Elimination Chamber event, Raw Women\’s Champion Alexa Bliss would step into the structure with the gold and would also leave as champion.

    In 2019, the Boss \’n Hug Connection became the first WWE Women\’s Tag Champions, in the first (and so far, only) Women\’s Tag Chamber match.

    2020 saw Shayna Baszler decimate the competition, eliminating every opponent in that year\’s Women\’s Chamber match.

    While there was no women\’s Chamber match in 2021, 2022 saw Bianca Belair earn a WrestleMania Raw Women\’s title match inside the barbaric structure.

    Elimination Chamber Main Event Will Culminate the Top Storyline in WWE

  • Seth Rollins\’ WrestleMania Opponent Becomes Apparent at WWE Raw

    Seth Rollins won\’t have to wait until the day of WrestleMania to find out his opponent this year, as who he\’ll face this April is abundantly clear.

    This year\’s show will mark Rollins\’ 10th WrestleMania appearance, after making his Mania debut with the Shield back at WrestleMania 29 in 2013.

    WrestleMania 39

    At last weekend\’s Royal Rumble, Rollins hoped to win his second Men\’s Rumble match (his first win coming in 2019) but that was thwarted by Logan Paul.

    Rollins entered the match at #15 and scored two eliminations in his 37 minutes in the match, before being the 27th person eliminated.

    In a backstage interview at Raw, Rollins was his usual confident, cocky, self, but his mood completely changed when asked about Logan Paul.

    Paul has impressed so far, and Rollins is a great opponent for him, as the former Universal Champion is a veteran who can push Paul to be his best in a fast-paced match.

    WrestleMania 39

    It had previously been reported that WWE\’s plans called for John Cena to face Logan Paul but that obviously isn\’t the direction anymore.

    It has been reported that scrapping the Cena-Paul match is due to the belief that Cena will not have time to train and rehearse a match with the talented, but inexperienced YouTuber.

    More recent reports state that the plan now is for Cena to take on WWE United States Champion Austin Theory in the former\’s first WrestleMania match since 2020, and his first non-cinematic WrestleMania match since 2018.

    During this week\’s Raw, it was confirmed that Cody Rhodes will challenge Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns this April.

    2023 Women\’s Royal Rumble match winner Rhea Ripley also declared that she will challenge SmackDown Women\’s Champion Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39.

  • Cody Rhodes\’ WWE 2K23 Entrance Video is a Sight to Behold

    Cody Rhodes is back in WWE and on the road to WrestleMania 39, and fans will soon get to play as the American Nightmare.

    Rhodes made an emphatic return at last weekend\’s Royal Rumble Premium Live Event, entering the men\’s match at #30 and eliminating five Superstars.

    Cody tossed out WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER to win the match after the Austrian broke the record for the longest time in a 30-Man Rumble match.

    In the Game

    Cody Rhodes\’ return to WWE has been cemented with the American Nightmare\’s inclusion into WWE 2K23.

    On Twitter, fans caught their first glimpse of Rhodes\’ entrance in the upcoming video game.

    Rhodes is known as an avid video game fan, and early into his career, would include the Tri-Force from the Legend of Zelda on his ring attire.

    While some had hoped that Rhodes would be included in WWE 2K22, possibly as DLC, it was said that there wasn\’t enough time to include the former AEW TNT Champion.

    WWE 2K23

    This will (if you include WWE 2K Battleground) be the tenth installment into the WWE 2K franchise, which began with WWE 2K14.

    WWE 2K23 will focus on the incredible career of John Cena, with a Showcase mode dedicated to some of the most important matches in John\’s 20-year career.

    The upcoming game will also see the video game debut of the WarGames match, with 3v3 and 4v4 matches available to play inside the double-cage structure.

    WWE 2K23 will be released publicly on March 14, 2023 and you can pre-order the game by clicking here.

    Reigns vs. Rhodes, Flair vs. Ripley Set for WWE WrestleMania 39

  • Dave Bautista as Bane? WWE Legend Has Spoken with Director James Gunn About Portraying Iconic \’Batman\’ Villain

    Dave Batista may be a staple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but WWE\’s Animal has his eyes on the world of DC Comics.

    Since 2014, Batista has played Drax the Destroyer, a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, and has won over audiences with his action scenes and his sense of humor.

    This year will see the release of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3, which Batista has confirmed will be the final time he portrays Drax.

    DC Comics

    Drax is by far not the only muscle-bound character in Batista\’s sights, as he hopes to one day play the DC Comics supervillain Bane.

    Speaking to Insider, Batista spoke about wanting to play the role but believes the opportunity has passed him by.

    \”I have had conversations with James [Gunn, Head of DC\’s film projects] about that but I think the direction he\’s leaning in, completely rebooting that whole universe, he\’s starting from scratch and starting younger and fresher and I think you need to do that.\”

    Batista.

    The 54-year-old actor said that DC needs to start a plan for the next 15 years, something he believes he simply won\’t be able to fit into.

    Several changes at Warner Bros. (who own the rights for DC\’s film projects) have resulted in several plans being scrapped or severely altered.

    The Animal (and future WWE Hall of Famer) isn\’t the only wrestler with his eyes on the role, as Braun Strowman shared his interest in playing Bane with an Instagram post in June 2021.

    The Man Who Broke the Bat

    \"\"
    Bane breaks the spine of Batman in one of the most shocking and iconic moments in comics.

    Debuting in comics as part of the 1993 Knightfall story, Bane didn\’t just surpass Batman when it comes to strength but has a genius intellect that matches the Dark Knight.

    In one of the most infamous moments in comics, Bane, who had deduced Batman\’s identity and the location of the Batcave, broke Bruce Wayne\’s spine over his knee, rendering him temporarily paralyzed.

    On-screen, WCW wrestler Robert Swenson played Bane in the 1997 flop Batman and Robin, while Tom Hardy did the character more justice in 2012\’s Dark Knight Rises.

    Batista on His First WWE World Title Win: “I Was So Unprepared”

  • LA Knight on Why His Max Dupri Character Didn\’t Work

    LA Knight has proven to be a hit on WWE\’s main roster, but only after ditching the name Max Dupri.

    Knight joined WWE in early 2021 after previous stints in TNA/Impact Wrestling and the NWA as Eli Drake, and is a former Impact World Champion.

    The 40-year-old wrestler made an impact (pardon the pun) upon his arrival to NXT, where he held the Million Dollar Championship.

    Dupri No More

    In May 2022, Knight was reintroduced to the WWE Universe as Max Dupri, the head of the Maximum Male Models.

    After his sister Maxine Dupri was introduced later that month, Dupri would split from the group, and revert to his LA Knight persona.

    Speaking to ComicBook.com, Knight explained why his tenure as Max Dupri was short-lived.

    \”How honest do you want me to be? I\’ll just say this, at the end of the day I can make anything work. But at the end of the day, I\’ve got a real tough time not being [me]. I\’ll tell you this, it wasn\’t me. So when things came to pass and LA Knight started to shine through, it was the right place to go and not a moment too soon.\”

    LA Knight.

    At WWE Royal Rumble 2023, Knight lost to Bray Wyatt in the Mountain Dew Pitch Black match, which marked Wyatt\’s first televised match since returning to WWE.

    What\’s in a Name?

    Whether it\’s as LA Knight, Max Dupri, or Eli Drake, the SmackDown Superstar (real name Shaun Ricker) has made a name himself, but these aren\’t his only names.

    Knight previously worked for WWE from 2013-2014 as Slate Randall but was primarily used as an enhancement talent.

    In 2011, Knight was an unnamed security guard during the infamous text message promo between Kevin Nash and CM Punk, when the latter joked that people thought Nash died years ago.

    Gamers may recognize Knight (or at least his voice) as \”Paragon Jay Pierce\” in WWE 2K22\’s MyRise mode.

    LA Knight on Sharing the Ring With Undertaker, Being Managed by Paul Bearer

  • Elimination Chamber Main Event Will Culminate the Top Storyline in WWE

    Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will seek to remind Sami Zayn who is the Head of the Table next month at WWE Elimination Chamber.

    At last weekend\’s Royal Rumble event, Zayn\’s tenure as the Honorary Uce ended when he refused to attack Kevin Owens, and instead struck Reigns with a steel chair.

    This moment of victory for Zayn was short-lived, as he was attacked by Reigns, Jimmy Uso, and Solo Sikoa immediately after.

    Elimination Chamber Main Event

    Reigns has been on the roll of his career since capturing the Universal Championship at Payback 2020, but Zayn is hoping to prevent the Tribal Chief from entering his third consecutive WrestleMania as Champion.

    Dave Meltzer reports that the main event of the upcoming show will see Zayn challenge Reigns for the title, in Sami\’s hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

    \"Sami

    Though Meltzer said that plans are as always, subject to change, he said that major changes to plans have been far less frequent since Triple H\’s appointment as Head of Creative.

    Next month\’s event will be the first WWE Premium Live Event to take place in Montreal since Breaking Point in September 2009.

    WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 will take place on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at the Bell Centre in Montreal.

    Sami Zayn: Can He Do It?

    A year ago, the idea of Sami Zayn dethroning Roman Reigns was laughable, but there has been a growing consensus that this could happen.

    Not only will the Canadian have the home-field advantage, but Zayn\’s popularity has proven to be undeniable in recent weeks.

    Many have compared Zayn today to Daniel Bryan circa 2014, and believe WWE may push him to the top as the crowd remains firmly on his side.

    There\’s also the factor of Cody Rhodes (the 2023 Men\’s Royal Rumble winner) who has been one of WWE\’s top babyfaces since returning to the promotion.

    WWE runs the risk of fans turning on Rhodes (a la AEW) if they push him instead of Zayn, and ironically, it was WWE\’s steadfast focus on pushing Reigns as a babyface that caused the fans to turn on him.

    Sami Zayn Answers: Can He Be The Face of WWE?

  • WWE Reaches Interesting New Statistic With Royal Rumble 2023

    Statistically, entering a Royal Rumble match from the #1 position is the worst possible number for a wrestler hoping to headline WrestleMania.

    As seen at the 2023 Royal Rumble, Rhea Ripley won the Women\’s Rumble match from the #1 position and has made history in the process.

    With Ripley\’s win, the #1 spot has now produced four winners, tying the coveted #27 spot.

    Being third from the last has often been touted as the best position to be in, with Big John Studd (1989,) Yokozuna (1993,) Bret Hart (1994,) and \’Stone Cold\’ Steve Austin (1997) all winning from #27.

    While #27 has long been considered the best spot, it has now fallen to second place, as Cody Rhodes\’ victory in the #30 spot is the fifth overall.

    Winning from #1

    Rhea Ripley is just the latest Superstar (and first female) to win a Rumble match from the #1 position, and has joined some notable names.

    In 1995, Shawn Michaels became the first Superstar to go the distance, eliminating \’The British Bulldog\’ Davey Boy Smith, who had entered at #2.

    Nearly a decade later, Chris Benoit did the same, entering at #1 in 2004 and last eliminating the Big Show to earn a championship match at WrestleMania.

    Aware that then-SmackDown GM Paul Heyman was planning to screw him, Benoit jumped from SmackDown to Raw for his WrestleMania title opportunity.

    It was Benoit\’s action that led to the rule that the Royal Rumble winner can choose which title they challenge for when there are two WWE World Championships.

    Fans would wait another 17 years before Edge won the Men\’s Rumble at #1, at the (thankfully) only Rumble to happen without a live crowd.

    Gunther Sets Record for Longest Time in WWE’s Royal Rumble Match

  • Gallows & Anderson\’s WWE Contracts Run For Several More Years

    Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are locked into their WWE deals for quite some time, Fightful Select has learned.

    Gallows and Anderson returned to WWE in late 2022, coming to the aid of AJ Styles in his feud with the Judgment Day.

    Both men had previously been released by WWE in April 2020 as part of \’Budget Cuts\’ and had found success in Impact Wrestling, as well as other promotions.

    Contracts

    When Fightful Select asked sources in WWE, they were told that Gallows and Anderson are under five-year WWE contracts that have them set to stay until late 2027.

    These deals are far longer than the typical WWE contract, which like other promotions is a standard three-year deal.

    As WWE\’s Head of Relations, Triple H oversaw the return of Gallows and Anderson, and it is reported that he encouraged the pair to re-sign with WWE in 2019, over tempting offers from Impact, AEW, and NJPW.

    Fightful\’s report suggests that the Game felt bad that he cost The O.C. opportunities elsewhere, only for them to be released in April 2020, hence their longer new deals.

    Gallows and Anderson

    After debuting in WWE in 2016 (as part of AJ Styles\’ feud with John Cena,) it wasn\’t long before Gallows and Anderson captured their first of two reigns as Raw Tag Team Champions.

    The pair also has the distinction of being part of The Undertaker\’s final match, as they (unsuccessfully) aided Styles during the Boneyard match at WrestleMania 36.

    Though the pair have worked with Styles since returning, the Phenomenal One is currently out of action after suffering an injury at a WWE live event.

    Karl Anderson Addresses Being Booked on The Same Date by WWE and NJPW

  • Cody Rhodes to Appear on Logan Paul\’s ImPaulsive Podcast This Week

    Cody Rhodes\’ road to the main event of WWE WrestleMania 39 will see him make a stop as the guest of Logan Paul\’s ImPaulsive podcast.

    Rhodes returned to competition at last Saturday\’s event, entering the Men\’s Rumble match at #30 and winning the entire thing.

    The American Nightmare eliminated five Superstars (including Paul) to win, last tossing out Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, who was the #1 entrant.

    ImPaulsive Podcast

    In a video from the official ImPaulsive podcast Twitter account, Cody confirmed that he and the Maverick had just wrapped up recording an episode of the show.

    Rhodes also brought up the fact that he eliminated Paul, to which the young Superstar insisted \”I\’m not mad, because you did our show.\”

    Like Rhodes, Paul made his own return from injury as part of the Men\’s Royal Rumble match, his first time in the 30-man contest.

    Entering at #29, Paul lasted over 10 minutes in the match and was the penultimate person to be eliminated.

    WrestleMania

    With his win, Rhodes has earned the opportunity to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania, currently held by Roman Reigns.

    Rhodes infamously vowed to become WWE Champion during his promo on the post-WrestleMania 38 Raw, and fulfill a promise to his late father, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes.

    As for Paul, the YouTuber had pitched to compete with John Cena this April, and at a time, it was reported that this match was in the works.

    With more recent reports of Cena Vs. U.S. Champion Austin Theory, it is now rumored that Paul will face Seth Rollins, who was eliminated by the Maverick at the Rumble.

    Logan Paul on a Tag Team With Jake Paul in WWE: “That Would be Amazing”