Damian Priest passed on the opportunity to be managed by Scarlett during both star\’s tenures as part of the WWE NXT brand.
After making his name in Ring of Honor as Punishment Martinez, Priest joined WWE in 2018 and captured the NXT North American Championship in August 2020.
The Archer of Infamy has had similar success on the main roster, becoming the WWE United States Champion at Summerslam 2021.
Manager
Priest can nowadays be seen alongside his fellow Judgment Day members but WWE once planned for him to be managed by Scarlett.
Fightful Select reports that when NXT jumped to the USA Network in late 2019, plans were made to introduce Scarlett to TV.
The plan for the \’Smokeshow\’ to manage Priest dated as far back as September that year, and sources said that some in WWE thought the act was going to make it to TV up until the week it was nixed.
Priest reportedly felt the idea was not a good fit for him and passed on the spot.
Had he gone ahead with the plan, Priest and Scarlett would have been on NXT as a unit within the first few weeks of NXT on the USA Network.
Scarlett and Kross
After Priest passed on the idea, Scarlett\’s character was put on the back burner, as Kross had not signed with WWE at that time.
Once WWE knew for sure he would be signing, plans were put in place for the real-life couple to be paired on-screen.
Those that spoke to Fightful said that everything worked out better for all involved.
Kross and Scarlett were released in November 2021 but returned to WWE in July this year.
Drew McIntyre was able to defeat Karrion Kross at the recent WWE Crown Jewel event but had to fight off more than the former NXT Champion and Scarlett.
In the third match on the card, McIntyre defeated Kross in a Steel Cage match, escaping over the top of the structure before Kross escaped through the door.
This match follows on from Kross getting the win at last month\’s WWE Extreme Rules event in a Strap Match.
Feeling Sick
McIntyre was able to overcome both Kross and Scarlett (who maced him during the match) but also had to overcome a severe case of flu. The former WWE Champion had been \”extremely sick\” over the last several days before the show, according to PWInsider.
McIntyre gutted through his cage match, and was said to be \”adamant\” that the match go ahead despite his illness.
This isn\’t the first time McIntyre has health with illness, as he was pulled from a WWE Live event in September due to \”bad food poisoning.\”
Despite the food poisoning, the Scottish Warrior still appeared on that week\’s SmackDown.
That may be easier said than done, given that the finish of the match was far from clean.
McIntyre did not pin Kross during their match, and the final moments of the bout saw Scarlett struggle to unlock the door to allow her husband to escape.
It is entirely possible that this feud could be extended to a rubber match given that both men have one PLE victory each.
WWE Superstar MVP risked facing the death penalty had he appeared at last night\’s WWE Crown Jewel event.
Before the show went live, it was reported that MVP would not be at the event, which saw Braun Strowman defeat his client \’the Nigerian Giant\’ Omos.
MVP has been aligned with Omos since the Raw after WrestleMania 38, when he turned on Bobby Lashley.
Punishments
MVP did not attend WWE Crown Jewel 2022 due to the very serious issues his presence in Saudi Arabia would have brought.
Fightful Select reports that MVP didn\’t make the show as he is a former Muslim, but now considers himself an atheist.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the renouncing of Islam by a Muslim is a serious offense and is punishable by death.
While there have been no confirmed executions for this reason since 2011, the possibility of extrajudicial executions still remains.
A Gallup poll taken in 2017 found that 19% of Saudis asked considered themselves non-religious while 5% call themselves atheists.
MVP changed his name from Alvin Antonio Burke Jr. to Hassan Hamin Assad after converting to Islam during a nine-and-a-half-year prison sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping.
WWE\’s Saudi Controversy
WWE held its first Saudi show in 2018 and the lucrative deal between the two remains a source of controversy.
Initially, the shows did not allow any women to appear, though that has since changed.
There were calls for WWE to cancel their 2018 Crown Jewel event in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, allegedly at the request of the Saudi royals.
In 2019, talent were delayed after that year\’s Crown Jewel, which many believe was due to WWE cutting off the broadcast in Saudi Arabia, allegedly as the Saudi royals had not paid for the show.
An official statement explained the issue as \”aircraft problems including mechanical issues,\” and the flights were later allowed to leave.
WWE Superstar Otis has opened up about his lengthy battle with dyslexia after reading his first book front to back.
Otis appears on Monday Night Raw as part of Alpha Academy with Chad Gable, and the duo are former Raw Tag Team Champions.
Before turning heel, Otis teamed with Tucker in Heavy Machinery and is a former Mr. Money in the Bank, but lost the contract to The Miz before he had the chance to cash in.
Reading Pet Sematary
Taking to Twitter, Otis shared the news that he recently finished reading Stephen King\’s 1983 horror classic Pet Sematary.
Otis explained that he has dealt with Dyslexia since elementary school, and WWE had approached him a year ago about getting into a reading class.
The Raw Superstar also praised his teacher Kimmy Swedberg, who chose Pet Sematary as Otis is a fan of horror, and was terrified by the 1989 film adaptation as a child.
Otis called Swedberg the \”Best instructor and teacher\” and gave a review of the book, and is already planning his next read, King\’s 1977 classic The Shining.
According to recent research, it is believed 15% of people deal with some form of dyslexia, equating to over 30 million people in the United States alone.
Otis isn\’t alone in his battle with dyslexia, as several wrestlers have come forward with their own struggles.
In an August 2019 interview, CJ (Lana) Perry said she learned of her dyslexia in college, and Diamond Dallas Page told Lilian Garcia on the Chasing Glory podcast that he had to deal with dyslexia at a time when nobody knew what it was.
Whether fans like it or not, Logan Paul is a contracted WWE Superstar, but will his brother follow in his footsteps?
Logan certainly believes so, as he recently told Ryan Satin that Jake in WWE will happen (via Bleacher Report.)
\”Truthfully, I think it’s inevitable. I’m biased, but I think what we’re doing is incredibly exciting, at least for me, personally, it is incredibly exciting.
\”If I were watching two brothers take over, and I use that word intentionally, take over two highly entertaining sports, boxing and wrestling in a way that has never been done before, my curiosity would be peaked.\”
AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill is confident in the company\’s women\’s division but wishes they were given more time.
Cargill is the inaugural holder of the TBS Championship, a title she has held for over 300 days.
The 30-year-old wrestler debuted in AEW in November 2020 and has remained undefeated since then.
Give Us Time
AEW has received praise from fans for being an alternative to WWE programming, but one major issue with audiences is the company\’s women\’s division.
Many have said that the promotion does not give their female wrestlers enough opportunities, especially when compared to WWE\’s Women\’s Revolution.
Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, Cargill said she is sure the women would be able to deliver if given the chance.
\”I know for a fact the women in the locker room, all of them can give five-star matches. We just need the time to do it and the time to shine. I mean, we have a very talented roster of ladies. It\’s just, we have one match to show and we\’re trying to do the best and perform and maximize the minutes that we\’re given.\”
When asked about the response from fans, and the accusation that AEW does not want to invest in their women\’s division, Cargill said it wasn\’t her place given how fresh she is to wrestling.
\”I\’m new to the industry so I\’m gonna sit back and just watch how things are going. I haven\’t worked in other industries. I mean, we\’re going to keep on maximizing the time that we have and just trying to kill and prove that we are worthy of more time.\”
AEW Evolution?
In 2018, WWE held their first (and to-date only) all-women\’s event \’Evolution,\’ and NWA followed suit with their Empowerrr show in 2021.
Speaking about an all-female Pay-Per-View, Cargill was on board with the idea.
\”The all-women\’s pay-per-view, I think if that happened it would be a home run. There\’d be matchups for the faces that haven\’t been on Dynamite and Rampage or haven\’t been on there in many months. It would be a great, stellar show. I\’m very certain of that.
\”Especially with not having to worry about fighting for positions or anything like that. It\’s just an all-woman show and everybody has time. I think it\’d be outstanding
Cargill was also asked about a dram-match created by fans that would pit her against WWE\’s Sasha Banks.
\”I have no idea [whether a match with Sasha Banks could happen.] Fans always want to create these fantasy matches that probably never happen. But I mean, where there\’s a will, there\’s a way. Let\’s just say that with wrestling and how unpredictable wrestling is, you just never know.\”
In addition to WWE and NWA, Impact Wrestling held several women\’s events as part of their One Night Only series of shows, titled \’Knockouts Knockdown.\’
Dealing with Fans
Like many wrestlers, Cargill has had her fair share of toxic fans who use social media to troll and harass her.
The issue is unfortunately much more prevalent for female wrestlers, but Cargill hasn\’t shied away from firing back with comments of her own.
When asked about dealing with toxic fans, Cargill said it\’s important to have a thick skin, but people shouldn\’t be shocked with a response.
\”If you\’re in this position you should be okay with taking criticism and taking people\’s judgments and opinions about you. It\’s just when you [fans] throw something, be able to take it back.
\”This is what we do. This is our job. We\’re entertainment and you can\’t throw stuff at an entertainer and don\’t think we\’re not gonna spin it back.\”
Cargill and other AEW stars recently called out a fan on Twitter for comments made about Marina Shafir.
Colt Cabana was emotional during his return to AEW programming on this week\’s AEW Dynamite, but his big comeback wasn\’t exactly for him.
Cabana returned to challenge Ring of Honor World Champion Chris Jericho in a losing effort to The Wizard.
This marked Cabana\’s first match on AEW TV in close to a year, with his previous being a November 2021 loss to Bryan Danielson.
For the Locker Room
During Cabana\’s lengthy absence from AEW TV, rumors circulated that this was down to CM Punk.
It had been suggested that Punk had arranged for Cabana to be removed from AEW TV, due to the bad blood between the former best friends.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer writes that Colt\’s World Championship opportunity was \”more for the locker room than anything else.\”
AEW President Tony Khan wanted to give the roster some positivity after \”months of being ostracized for reasons that had nothing to do with him.\”
It is reported that Cabana has a lot of friends in All Elite Wrestling.
Colt\’s AEW Journey
Hired in 2019, Cabana started off for AEW as an agent, before being put on Dark and Dark: Elevation as part of the Dark Order.
After returning from filming for Young Rock (where he plays the Brooklyn Brawler) Cabana was no longer used as an agent, which coincides with the time Ace Steel was hired.
When Cabana\’s contract was set to expire, he was given the offer to work for Ring of Honor for the same amount of money.
The Observer confirmed reports that Cabana\’s appearance on Dynamite was a one-off and he remains part of the Ring of Honor roster.
AEW\’s roster is hoping for more opportunities to compete in the ring and is hopeful that untelevised house shows will soon be a reality.
Since forming in 2019, AEW has held Pay Per Views, TV, and produces content on YouTube, but has yet to hold house shows.
Many plans AEW President Tony Khan had were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic which caused shows to take place with zero love fans.
House Shows
House shows are a staple of several promotions, including WWE and Impact Wrestling, and AEW\’s roster hopes to be next.
In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reports that there are no \”definitive plans\” for the company to host untelevised events.
AEW\’s roster has made it clear to higher-ups that they would like to wrestle more and are pushing for house shows.
Meltzer said that AEW house shows would be great to develop younger, more inexperienced talent.
However, it\’s reported that AEW would struggle to host live events at this time as when it comes to life events, AEW is the \”coldest\” it has ever been.
Who\’s on the Card?
In his report, Meltzer said that while AEW has its selection of main eventers for potential house shows, not everyone would be on the shows.
It was noted that stars like Chris Jericho and Bryan Danielson would be draws, age, and prior injuries could keep house show appearances to a minimum.
Meltzer added that while MJF is certainly young enough to make do regular house shows, it would clash with his character, who competes sporadically.
Will The Rock return to the ring to face his cousin Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39?
That is the question everyone has been asking, and there\’s no shortage of fans hoping to see it happen.
Both men have teased a match in the past, and the Los Angeles setting for WrestleMania would certainly make sense given the Brahma Bull\’s success in Hollywood.
Acknowledge Him
Both The Rock and Reigns are part of the legendary Anoa\’I wrestling family, with relations including Yokozuna, Umaga, Rikishi, The Usos and many more.
In 2018, Lance Anoa\’I made his debut for Major League Wrestling, where he competes to this day, but has his prediction for the dream match as he told Sportskeeda.
“I would pick Roman. I feel that he has the youth, the strength, and the time to dedicate to fans of the wrestling federation.”
Lance Anoa\’I.
While Lance hasn\’t made his name in WWE like his relations, he did appear on Raw in 2019 as part of Reigns\’ feud at the time with Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre.
Whatever it Takes
WWE has not publicly confirmed a Reigns Vs. Rock match, though the Brahma Bull\’s Hollywood schedule is noticeably free for the first quarter of 2023.
Speaking about the match, Lance is confident WWE will do all it can to make the bout happen.
\”That rumor or that dream match or whatever you want to call it has been in the ears of everybody for a long time. Whether it will come to [fruition] or not, who knows but knowing WWE, they’ll probably do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
While WWE no doubt wants the match, The Rock may be hesitant, as an injury suffered at WrestleMania 29 forced the filming of Hercules to be delayed, costing a lot of money.
Maria Kanellis-Bennett is not ashamed to be considered a WWE Diva, despite the stigma that era of women\’s wrestling has with fans.
In 2015, WWE began its \’Women\’s Revolution\’ and has made a concerted effort to treat women\’s wrestling with more respect.
This revolution has resulted in female wrestlers being referred to as Superstars, the introduction of Women\’s Tag Titles, and 2018\’s all-female event WWE Evolution.
Proud
Maria debuted during the heights of WWE\’s Divas division in 2004, and her first match the following year would be a Lingerie Pillow Fight.
This era of women\’s wrestling has often been ridiculed by fans, especially compared to the more athletic competition seen today.
Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, Maria admitted to having mixed feelings about the Divas era for a long time.
\”It was a different time. I\’ve gone through so many transitions of loving that time, hating that time and now I\’ve come to a really happy place where I love that I was able to come from that generation of women.\”
Maria Kanellis-Bennett.
Kanellis-Bennett\’s time in the Divas era would end in February 2010 when she was released, and by the time of her return, the Women\’s Revolution was two years in effect.
Respect
While Maria may have come to terms with her part in the Divas era, many fans still believe that this era was detrimental to women\’s wrestling.
Addressing the apparent lack of respect, Maria said the idea made little sense given how many women of the time remain big names in wrestling today.
\”You have the people that were considered Divas, the Beth Phoenixes who have come and gone back and forth with NXT and have had matches on WrestleMania just recently. The Divas have done a lot and we really set the stage for everything moving forward. Whether people want to respect that or not that\’s up to them.
\”The facts are the facts and the facts are that Beth is still relevant. Maryse is still relevant. Mickie [James] is still relevant. I\’m still doing my thing. Go down the line. The [Bella] Twins have had kids and come back. We\’re still a part of this industry and we are still part of this generation. Love us or hate us but you got to respect us.\”
\”Love us or hate us but you\’ve got to respect us.\”
Maria Kanellis
Death Threats
While WWE treats their women with much more respect now, there are some fans who didn\’t get the memo.
Kanellis-Bennett captured the 24/7 Championship in July 2019, the first pregnant person to hold gold.
Speaking about working with WWE while pregnant, Maria recalled the incredibly rude comments she received.
\”I was having so many problems of like getting into the mode of motherhood, and like seeing all the comments of like, ‘oh your husband is just this and you’re just that and how dare you have a kid!’ and saying things about my daughter. She was like a couple of days old and I’m getting like death threats.\”
Maria and her husband Mike would welcome their son Carver Mars Bennett into the world in February 2020.
WWE Superstar Butch was once a huge part of Triple H\’s NXT UK brand, but the pair\’s first meeting left a lot to be desired.
Butch joined WWE as Pete Dunne in 2017 as part of the United Kingdom Championship tournament
Despite losing to Tyler Bate in the finals, Butch would win the title in May 2017, and would hold the title for 685 days.
First Meetings
Like its American counterpart, NXT UK saw a lot of involvement by Triple H, who was a key part of the brand being formed in 2017.
Speaking on the latest episode of Out of Character, Butch recalled doing a dark match before signing with WWE and how he had to fight hard (literally) to get the Game\’s attention.
\”I definitely met him very, very briefly. Me and Tyler [Bate] did a dark match before the show to test the cameras in Glasgow where we had our tryout. Regal picked us up to go and wrestle. I remember he was on his phone or whatever.
\”We\’re in there and we were just taking it as a job interview, right? So we were out there just putting our best foot forward, putting on the best match we possibly could. Then I remember halfway through, he puts his phone down and just starts watching. I remember him standing there and watching the whole thing.\”
Speaking to The Game
While Butch was focused on the match, the idea of speaking for the first time with Triple H was an opportunity he realized he would not be getting again soon.
In the interview, Butch said that despite Triple H\’s involvement in NXT UK, he didn\’t speak much with the Hall of Famer.
\”He was actually talking to Chris Jericho. We stood by the rail, really awkwardly. We thought \’We\’ve got to get five minutes with him if we can.\’ Then eventually, Jericho turned around and asked us if we\’re okay, what we needed. We said, \’Oh, we just wanted to make sure everything you saw was okay. If there\’s anything we could do differently to improve and get your thoughts.\’ Triple H basically just said \’No, that was great.\’\”
While the interaction between Butch and Triple H was short, Jericho was far more open.
\”Jericho said, \’Just give me five minutes I\’ll come talk to you.\’ We had a good chat with him and he had some really kind words to say and stuff. That was the only brief encounter I had with Triple H.\”
After working in NXT UK, Butch was moved to NXT, where he held the NXT Tag Team Titles.
Upon arriving on SmackDown earlier this year, the Brit was given the Butch name, and he and Ridge Holland will challenge for Undisputed WWE Tag Champions The Usos at Crown Jewel.
Bodhi Hayward was well-liked by fans and in the middle of a popular storyline, but that wasn\’t enough to keep his job with WWE NXT.
Hayward was one of five Superstars released from the developmental brand this week, alongside Sloane Jacobs, Erica Yan, Ru Feng, and Damaris Griffin.
It has been reported that unlike previous years of \’budget cuts,\’ the releases this week were down to WWE not seeing enough improvement.
Trouble Backstage
Hayward\’s release was the most surprising of the five, given that he was part of the Chase U stable at the time.
It was reported not long after that Hayward\’s release was down to issues WWE had with him and not due to a lack of improvement.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer shared more details about Hayward\’s backstage issues.
With Bodhi Hayward, it was more than that [not showing enough progress.] They didn\’t like the work ethic. They didn\’t like that he was late to shows and didn\’t show up to shows. The primary reason for everyone [else] was lack of progression. But for him it was a little bit more than that. It had to be enough to overcome the fact that he was actually in a storyline that was a long-term storyline, and that the crowd liked him.
Speaking about future prospects for Hayward, Meltzer said that there are options for the former NXT Superstar.
\”He does have friends. He might be able to get hooked up some place. He has a good look. He\’s got that going for him. People naturally liked him. So it took a lot for him to get cut. He would be the kind of guy they would want to keep. He did get injured, which didn\’t help.\”
What\’s Next?
After his release, Hayward shared a video saying that he is \”hurt\” and \”embarrassed\” to be release.
Speaking about the video, Meltzer acknowledged that there is a big difference between promising big things and delivering.
\”There are so many guys when they get cut from WWE, they do the big speech. \’I\’m going to come back and this and that.\’ And there are guys who do. But seven or eight out of ten, you never hear from them again. They don\’t do indies. Remember Dan Matha? \’Oh yeah you\’ll be seeing me! You\’ll be seeing me!\’ I never saw him again.\”
While not confirmed, it is believed Hayward is dealing with a 30-day non compete clause, as is customary for releases from NXT.
At the time, it was reported that Bray\’s high-dollar contract and creative differences with then-CEO Vince McMahon led to the decision.
The White Rabbit
During the recent 2022 Q3 earnings call, WWE Head of Creative and Talent Relations spoke about Wyatt\’s return.
The Game explained that \’The White Rabbit Project\’ was an incredibly effective tool in generating hype, as fans tried to decipher the use of the Jefferson Airplane song at Live events.
Triple H added that interest in the White Rabbit only grew with the introduction of QR codes, and said that these drove up the viewership of the 9pm hour of the September 23, 2022, SmackDown by 20%.
That episode was the most-watched episode of SmackDown since March of 2020.
Best for Business
After weeks of teases, the White Rabbit would be revealed to be Wyatt who earned a thunderous response from the live crowd.
Triple H explained how Bray, who he called \”one of our biggest Superstars\” has been a provable draw, going by their metrics (via NoDQ.com.)
\”Bray Wyatt’s return at Extreme Rules resulted in a 30% increase in total viewership and became the most-watched Extreme Rules in history. Monday Night Raw just two nights later also benefitted increasing our audience to nearly 2 million, an increase of 14% week over week.”
Wyatt\’s return to WWE has come with a ton of merchandise, which has been selling well so far.
On the call, Triple H explained that when Bray returned, his first shirt back became the top-selling item – not just among WWE merchandise – but across Fanatics’ entire network of e-commerce sites.
More merchandise is expected following the debut of the Uncle Howdy character on last week\’s SmackDown.
The action didn\’t end when this week\’s episode of AEW Dynamite went off the air.
Last night\’s episode aired from the Chesapeake Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, and saw Tony Khan\’s promotion continue on the road to Full Gear.
The show is most notable for the debut of WWE Hall of Famer \’Double J\’ Jeff Jarrett, who has signed as the promotion\’s Director of Business Development.
Joe and Wardlow
In the main event of the show, ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe put his title on the line against Brian Cage.
In an unsurprisingly physical match, Joe got the win via submission, but he was attacked by the Gates of Agony and other members of The Embassy.
The show ended with TNT Champion Wardlow running the group off, before being attacked by Powerhouse Hobbs, who ended AEW Dynamite by raising the title in the air.
According to several fan reports, Powerhouse Hobbs went backstage while the referee checked on Wardlow after the show.
Samoa Joe got back into the ring and shook hands with Wardlow, and the two champions raised hands before leaving.
Matt Hardy
After Wardlow and Joe left, Tony Khan came out and introduced Matt Hardy, but the pair were interrupted by Stokely Hathaway and The Firm.
Hathaway told Khan to go to the bank because he owns the contracts for Private Party and Matt, who he called \”Matthew Hardy.\”
Ethan Page told Hardy that he isn\’t going to help him, and touted himself as a future AEW World Champion.
While Page and W. Morrisey’s backs were turned, Hardy hit Hathaway with a Twist Of Fate to send the crowd home happy.
WWE has big plans to launch NXT Europe next year, but the promotion will soon be traveling to Africa to recruit talent.
This week, WWE had its 2022 Q3 earnings call with investors, in which co-CEO Nick Khan confirmed a talent search starting next week.
Khan confirmed that the search will begin in Nigeria, but it is unclear whether the search will travel to other parts of the continent.
WWE had initially planned a two-day tryout back in 2020, but those plans were canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Broadcast Deal
WWE isn\’t just searching for their next Superstars in Africa, but have also reached a deal regarding their content.
In a statement, WWE announced that the streaming service Showmax will become the new home of the WWE Network in sub-Saharan Africa.
Matt Drew, WWE Senior VP of International, was optimistic about plans for the new deal.
\”Adding WWE to the Showmax platform is an exciting development that we know our entertainment and sport-loving African subscribers are going to enjoy, making WWE even more accessible and affordable.”
WWE and Africa
WWE has never hosted a Premium Live Event in the continent of Africa but has hosted several African-born Superstars.
Arguably the most successful of these stars is Kofi Kingston of Ghana, who has become a WWE Champion, Grand Slam Champion, and one of WWE\’s longest-tenuring stars.
The colossal Omos also comes from Africa, having been born in Lagos, Nigeria, and is a former Raw Tag Team Champion.
In 2008, Justin Gabriel signed with the promotion, becoming the first South African wrestler under control, and would become FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion in September 2009.
Called up the following year, Gabriel would become a three-time WWE Tag Team Champion before he quit the company in January 2015, one day before being scheduled to appear at the Royal Rumble.
Could Vince McMahon return to WWE now that the investigation into him is over? Don\’t bet on it.
In June, it was reported that McMahon had paid a total $12 million in NDA pay outs to female employees who it is alleged he had extramarital affairs with.
After an investigation into the matter was set up, McMahon retired from all roles with WWE in July with his role as Chair of the company going to Stephanie McMahon.
A Return on the Horizon?
During WWE\’s recent 2022 Q3 filings, it was confirmed that the investigation into McMahon has finished and the committee looking into the matter disbanded.
As part of the filing, it was said that \”Mr. McMahon can effectively exercise control over our affairs,\” leaving some to speculate on a return.
That isn\’t the case, as a spokesperson from WWE who spoke to Fightful Select said that McMahon is \”done, done\” with the promotion.
Another WWE higher-up said that the morale in WWE post-McMahon has been the highest they\’ve seen it in over a decade that they\’ve been around.
Another longtime WWE employee said that rehiring the former Chairman would be a major step backward, and that the company\’s success since his retirement proves it.
Still Paying
McMahon is alleged to have paid a total $12 million across 16 years to women it is reported he slept with to keep hush-hush about what happened.
In their statement on the matter, WWE disclosed that the investigation into the allegations totaled an estimated $19.4 million.
McMahon, who has a net worth of $2.7 billion, has agreed to pay the costs of the investigation.
In July this year, Vince McMahon\’s four-decade reign on top of the wrestling world came to a shocking end.
A month after stepping down as CEO and Chairman, McMahon\’s time on top of the wrestling world ended in controversy, as he announced his retirement from his own promotion.
McMahon had been under serious scrutiny following the shocking allegations of Non-Disclosure-Agreements, totaling over $12 million, reported by the Wall Street Journal.
With McMahon gone, his daughter Stephanie has filled his shoes as Chairwoman and WWE, while she and Nick Khan share the title of Co-CEOs.
Best for Business
While Stephanie and Khan are the ones running the company, much of the responsibilities have fallen to Triple H.
Today marks 100 days since the Game was appointed Head of WWE Creative, replacing McMahon, and also serves as Head of Talent Relations, replacing John Laurinaitis.
At the time of McMahon\’s retirement, there was plenty of uncertainty, but the stock market has bounced back nicely.
Last month, WWE\’s stock reached a four-year high, closing the trading day at $74.12 a share.
This, ironically, benefitted Vince McMahon more than anyone else, as he still owns 28 million shares in the company, making him the majority shareholder.
When McMahon stepped down from his roles in June, WWE\’s stock was at $62.23, and the new regime has certainly been good for the market.
Evidently, the markets appreciate what Triple H has done, and this is earning those with large shares in the company a small fortune.
Morale
Morale in WWE was said to be at an all-time low in January this year after Shane McMahon was released from his father over conduct at the Royal Rumble event.
It\’s not just the markets that have been pleased with WWE\’s post-Vince McMahon era, but the atmosphere behind the scenes has been said to have improved.
Not long after McMahon was gone, reports came out that things were far more relaxed backstage and employees no longer feel like they were walking on eggshells.
Many on WWE\’s main roster first honed their talents in WWE working as part of NXT, and are said to be much happier working for him again.
An August 2022 report from Fightful said that morale backstage lifted \”immediately\” with Triple H in charge, a far cry from morale being at a reported all-time low in January this year.
It was during the Ruthless Agression era that fans would critique Triple H as someone who only thought of himself and his own ego, but the Game has proven to be a team player in his roles.
It\’s hardly surprising, that someone who spent decades as a wrestler, knows what his wrestlers want, and Triple H has been an effective leader thus far.
Returns
Triple H\’s leadership has led to some huge returns, the biggest being Bray Wyatt at Extreme Rules 2022.
Triple H\’s tenure as Head of Creative and Talent Relations has been distinct with how many Superstars he\’s been able to bring back.
Names like Dakota Kai, Braun Strowman, Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano, Hit Row, Karrion Kross, and more have all returned to WWE under the watchful eye of the King of Kings.
Triple H\’s biggest success story is by far Bray Wyatt, whose return at Extreme Rules 2022 racked up millions of views within hours on YouTube.
At the time of his controversial release in July 2021, it was reported that Waytt had been creatively frustrated working with McMahon, but the future looks very bright now with Triple H in charge.
What\’s next?
Triple H is just 100 days into his roles as WWE\’s Head of Creative and Talent, but with the success so far, he won\’t be leaving the role anytime soon.
Even now, the Cerebral Assassin continues to make big moves, including allowing Shinsuke Nakamura to compete at the Pro Wrestling NOAH event on January 1.
As to what the future will bring, that\’s uncertain, but the Game has already proven to be someone WWE talent and higher-ups can rely on.
At a time when AEW has been thrown into dissary, with multiple suspensions and injuries to their name, Triple H\’s work so far has only proven to fans not to give up on WWE just yet.
WWE has a lot of options open going into 2023, including allowing more Forbidden Door crossovers, seeking more international PLEs and the return of top stars such as Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
In just a few weeks time, WWE will kick off their first Road to WrestleMania with Triple H in charge, and if the past 100 days are indicative of the future, expect a wild road with the Game in the driver\’s seat.
Dana Brooke has big plans for her 24/7 Championship, including possibly turning the belt into a women\’s mid-card title.
Brooke, a fifteen-time champion, has the second-highest total number of days at 328 (only behind R-Truth at 413 days.)
Her win as 24/7 Champion in November 2021 marked the first title the fitness enthusiast has ever held in WWE.
Changing the Title
Since first winning the championship a year ago, Brooke has been a constant fixture of the WWE 24/7 title picture.
While the title can be won by all genders, there are only three titles on the main roster exclusively for women (the Raw and SmackDown Women\’s titles and Women\’s Tag Titles.)
Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, Brooke said she hopes to change that.
\”I’ve been wanting to transition the 24/7 Title into a [Women\’s] IC title. I think it would be amazing. We’re building a roster, we have amazing women on the roster. With everyone coming back, why not? We have the tag team titles, but not everyone is teamed up. You have the storylines that are going for the women’s titles, but the rest are just little stories in the mix. Why not go for an IC Title?\”
Despite calling her proposed idea a Women\’s Intercontinental Championship, Brooke doesn\’t believe it would have to be less relevant than the Raw or SmackDown Women\’s Titles.
\”It\’s not secondary. It\’s just another thing to pour your heart and soul in and have that title and be given that opportunity. I just feel like it would enhance the Women\’s Division.\”
Dana Brooke outlines her plan for a new Women\’s Championship.
Brooke is hardly alone in her search for a women\’s mid-card championship, as both Bayley and Raquel Rodriguez have been vocal about a female Mid-Card title.
Evolution
Since 2015, WWE has made an effort to treat women\’s wrestling with more respect.
WWE\’s Women\’s Revolution culminated in 2018\’s Evolution event, the promotions first, and to date, only all-female show.
Speaking about a possible sequel, Brooke said that she is optimistic given the leaps WWE has made since Evolution.
\”Women have always, for the last decade or so, have been pushing the bar and really stepping up and at those Crown Jewel pay-per-views, we’ve been making history. So I definitely feel as though it’s something that we will see again soon.”
Brooke\’s involvement at WWE Evolution saw her compete in a battle royal which was won by Nia Jax.
Saudi Arabia
WWE\’s women\’s division is allowed to compete at Saudi shows these days, but that wasn\’t always the case.
Initally, women were banned from the events, and some suggested in 2018 that Evolution was nothing but WWE\’s attempt to save face amid the Saudi controversy
While Women\’s matches are allowed now, Superstars must dress fully covered, in accordance with Saudi Arabia customs.
Speaking about WWE\’s Saudi deal, Brooke believes there will be a day when women are in the main event.
\”Definitely [the women will headline a Saudi Arabia event.] The momentum is high. We\’re breaking ground. We\’re breaking barriers. We\’re making history every time we go over there. The last time we were on billboards that was a huge accomplishment. I think it\’s definitely something that will happen soon.\”
This Saturday\’s Crown Jewel will see the Raw Women\’s Championship and the WWE Women\’s Tag Team titles defended.
More Gold?
Brooke already has big plans for the 24/7 Championship, but doesn\’t want to stop just there.
When addressing the possibility of adding more gold to her collection, Brooke remained open to going for the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Titles.
\”I would love to go out there find a tag team partner and go after those Tag Team titles.\”
Brooke\’s most recent shot at the titles came on the November 2, 2020, episode of Raw, where she and Mandy Rose unsuccessfully challenged Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler.
Will The Rock return to WWE in early 2023 to have the long-awaited WrestleMania showdown with Roman Reigns?
That has been the question a ton of fans have been asking, and one that certainly seems possible.
Both Rock and Reigns have teased the match, and it was during an episode of Young Rock that it was teased a match that big could only happen at WrestleMania.
Not Returning?
Earlier this year, it was reported that The Rock\’s usually full filming schedule is free for the first quarter of 2023.
Many have taken this as a sign that the Brahma Bull will return to WWE and have a program with the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
Speaking to SEScoops correspondent Steve Fall, ex-WWE Head Writer and close friend of The Rock Brian Gewirtz gave another possible suggestion.
\”I saw an internet report at one point saying \’Oh The Rock\’s not shooting any movies in February.\’ I don\’t know if he is or not but he is launching with Dany [Garcia] a gigantic football league so that might take some time too.\”
Gewirtz was with WWE for years and now works as part of The Rock\’s \’Seven Bucks Productions.
5 Opponents for Roman Reigns after WWE Crown Jewel
The XFL
The \”gigantic football league\” Gewirtz is referring to is the XFL, which is looking to kick-off in early 2023.
The league, originally the creation of Vince McMahon, was purchased by The Rock and business partner Dany Garcia in 2020.
This will be the third attempt at the league after the first in 2000 lasted just one season due to low ratings.
The second attempt in 2020 was forced to end early due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
New WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Alexa Bliss won\’t have long to savor their win, as the titles will be up for grabs at this Saturday\’s Crown Jewel.
Bliss and Asuka won the titles during this week\’s Raw, in what was Asuka\’s first televised match in close to two months.
This marks both women\’s third reign as Tag Champions (albeit with different partners) and the third partner for Asuka, who previously held gold with KAIRI and Charlotte Flair.
The Rematch
Just five days after winning the titles, Asuka and Bliss will put the Women\’s Tag Team Championships on the line against Damage CTRL.
Bliss and Asuka will face former Champions Dakota Kai and IYO SKY, who had a 49-day reign before it was ended this week.
On Twitter, Damage CTRL\’s Bayley added that she will \”stop at nothing\” to make things right for the group.
Bayley will also compete at Crown Jewel, where she will face Raw Women\’s Champion Bianca Belair for the gold in a Last Woman Standing match.
Crown Jewel 2022 will mark the first time Asuka, SKY, and Kai have competed at a Saudi Arabia event.
Crown Jewel 2022
In addition to these two title matches, WWE Crown Jewel will see Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defend against Logan Paul.
The O.C. will be in action against the Judgment Day while Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley will have their long-awaited rematch from January.
Drew McIntyre will face Karrion Kross inside a Steel Cage, as the Scottish Warrior seeks to finally defeat his nemesis.
The Usos will put the Undisputed WWE Tag Titles on the line against the Brawling Brutes while Braun Strowman will have a meeting of the giants with Omos.
Bodhi Hayward has made it clear that he isn\’t pleased to lose his job with WWE NXT this week.
Hayward was released yesterday and was one of five to be cut, alongside Sloane Jacobs, Ru Feng, Damaris Griffin, and Erica Yan.
Prior to his release, Hayward had been a regular feature on NXT TV as part of Andre Chase\’s Chase University.
Embarrassed
Hayward\’s release from WWE was certainly surprising, though it has been reported that he was a handful to work with backstage.
Taking to social media, Hayward addressed his release, saying:
\”What up Brodies, it’s your boy, Bodhi Hayward … Brady Booker. Here to tell you that I was just released from the WWE. I’m hurt. I’m embarrassed. And Brodies, I’m just down bad.
For the last 18 months, Andre Chase University and wrestling has been my whole life. I’m no stranger to adversity. Adversity has been something that has come up my whole life, and I’ve found a way to get on top.
I will do it again. I’m Brady Booker, and I’m here to stay.”
Brodhi Hayward.
There is no word on what kind of non-compete clause is in effect, though if previous releases are anything to go by, Hayward and the others can\’t wrestle for 30 days.
Out of the five Superstars released, Hayward was by far the most surprising, given he had been a regular on TV as part of Chase U.
Hayward\’s antics with the group had proven to be popular, and he had regularly appeared alongside Thea Hail.
On last night\’s WWE NXT, Duke Hudson, who attacked Hayward in his final appearance before Bodhi\’s release, tried to become the newest student of Chase U.
Fans of Game Changer Wrestling will now have the chance to watch the promotion\’s content exclusively on FITE+, the two parties have confirmed.
GCW, formerly Jersey Championship Wrestling, has operated since 1999, but was relaunched in 2013, and focuses on hardcore matches.
The Announcement
It was reported last weekend that GCW would make an announcement concerning streaming content, and some believed a deal had been struck with WWE.
That isn\’t the case, as FITE COO Michael Weber and GCW Founder/CEO Brett Lauderdale made the announcement today of GCW content streaming on FITE+.
GCW and FITE will be offering a limited-time seven-day free trial of FITE+, with the regular price being $4.99 a month.
In the statement, Lauderdale said that the company\’s growth helped make the deal possible.
\”As our schedule becomes busier and our catalog continues to grow, we want to make it easier for all our fans to follow us on this journey. We are proud to continue our partnership with Fite and bring our entire library, along with all future live events to Fite.\”
The first live event under the FITE+ deal will be the Nick Gage Invitational, and fans will have instant access to 240 prior GCW events.
AEW\’s controversial former World Champion CM Punk has yet to file any legal action against the company, amid reports of a buyout.
Punk has been absent from programming since September\’s All Out Pay Per View due to his actions after the show.
The two-time AEW World Champion had explosive comments on the All Out post-show, with a fight breaking out between himself and the Elite backstage afterward.
Legal Action
It has been suggested by some that Punk could sue AEW if he is released from the company, just over a year after his epic arrival at Rampage: The First Dance.
Others have suggested that AEW could sue Punk, possibly for defamation, after criticizing the company\’s EVPs The Elite.
Punk infamously said that Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, wouldn\’t know\”how to manage a target\” and accused them of sharing false information about him.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that no lawsuits have been filed yet from Punk to AEW.
\”As far as I know, there aren’t [any lawsuits yet] but that doesn’t mean that there won’t be. I suppose it’s possible on the other side, too, but I have not heard that. I mean the key to this is so much of the stuff has not come out and I don’t know that it ever will.\”
Special guest Nick Hausman of Wrestlin Inc added that AEW has not filed any suits at Punk over his comments and behavior.
\”I’m under the impression there’s no litigation against Punk at this moment.”
Nick Hausman.
Radio Silence
While fans have been clamoring for answers, Tony Khan has been noticeably silent on the matter and the investigation which has since concluded.
Speaking about AEW\’s radio silence, Meltzer added that he doesn\’t expect a public statement from Khan no matter what comes next.
\”As far as what the investigation shows, I don\’t think we\’ll ever know that. I don\’t think we\’ll ever hear anything from AEW on this subject. I mean, maybe in years, we might, but I don\’t expect to. Just from the fact that we haven\’t [heard anything from AEW yet.]\”
While Ace Steel is believed to have been fired from AEW last month, nobody from the company has publicly confirmed this.
Logan Paul would make an incredibly interesting Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, at least according to Jeff Jarrett.
Paul made his in-ring debut for WWE this year, competing at WrestleMania 38 in a tag match with The Miz to defeat Rey and Dominik.
After being betrayed by the A-Lister, Paul defeated The Miz at Summerslam, and will challenge Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel this Saturday.
In Every Kind of Way
Since Paul\’s title match was announced, he has faced backlash from fans who believe he doesn\’t deserve a title shot so quickly in his career.
Paul himself has said it is somewhat \”ridiculous\” that his third match in WWE will be against the company\’s biggest star for the top prize.
Speaking on his My Way podcast, Jeff Jarrett explained how the social media presence Logan and his brother Jake have, could translate into championship success.
\”The audience, in general, whether it\’s my 16-year-old son or daughter or whoever it may be, they\’re consuming their content on their phones. YouTube. Twitter… That\’s what the Paul brothers [have mastered.] They weren\’t on \’Dancing with the Stars\’ or \’The Voice\’ or some kind of athletic [show.] They got over on social media, and now they\’re bringing that to a televised product.
\”The Paul kid becoming champion, I think would work, in every kind of way. Do I think they\’re going to do it? No. I just don\’t think they\’ll switch the title in Saudi [Arabia.] But look, online audiences are talking about it.\”
Jarrett\’s co-host Conrad Thompson defended Paul against claims of being similar to David Arquette, who infamously became WCW World Champion in 2000.
Thompson explained how Arquette was an actor who WCW forced into a title run to try and get publicity, while Paul has proven himself to be an athlete, even boxing Floyd Mayweather.
WrestleMania
Whether Paul wins or loses at Crown Jewel, this isn\’t expected to be his final foray in the ring.
On his show, Jarrett discussed the plans for Paul after Crown Jewel, and what WWE could have for him on the biggest show of the year.
\”The Paul brothers, they just dominate the conversation and I\’m curious. I don\’t think they\’ll switch it [the title at Crown Jewel] but where does Logan fit in the WrestleMania picture? That\’s going to be interesting.
When it was suggested that a Paul Vs. Cody Rhodes title match at WrestleMania could be possible, Jarrett reiterated his belief that a title change could work.
\”As far as belts and storylines, Roman does not need the title right now. I mean, Sami Zayn is the star of that attraction right now. You pull him out of that? It\’s a completely different dynamic.\”
No matches have been confirmed for WrestleMania 39 yet, but a showdown between Reigns and The Rock has been rumored.
It was not announced what Wyatt will be doing, though given that it was promoted as an appearance, a match seems unlikely.
Wyatt and Saudi Arabia
Wyatt has competed multiple times in the Middle Eastern kingdom but has had mixed results.
In 2019, Wyatt captured the Universal Championship from Seth Rollins at that year\’s Crown Jewel, following their much-maligned Hell in a Cell match the prior month.
Wyatt\’s reign would end at the 2020 Super Showdown event in Saudi Arabia, where his \’The Fiend\’ persona was crushed by Bill Goldberg.
The title change, mere weeks short of WrestleMania 36, received backlash from fans, who disagreed with WWE putting the then-53-year-old Goldberg over the popular Wyatt.
Not Coming Alone?
If Wyatt does not wrestle at Crown Jewel 2022, then it raises the question as to what will he do on the show.
It is possible that Uncle Howdy could also appear at Crown Jewel, after fans caught their first glimpse of the character last week.
On SmackDown, the character confronted Wyatt on the titantron, encouraging the former Universal Champion to embrace who he really is.
It is unclear if the character will be played by Wyatt, or if someone else will portray Uncle Howdy in person.
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