Author: Thomas Lowson

At Summerslam 2022, Dakota Kai returned to WWE, receiving her main-roster call-up in the process.

Kai, alongside the returning Bayley and IYO SKY, appeared early in the show, after the Raw Women\’s Championship match between Bianca Belair and Becky Lynch.

Last-Minute

Fans were shocked to see Kai appear at Summerslam, as she had been released by WWE in April this year.

Speaking on the latest episode of WWE The Bump, the New Zealand-born Superstar revealed that there was never a long-term plan to bring her back.

“You thought you’d seen the last of me, huh? It still feels like a whirlwind to me with everything that happened. It all happened so last minute too. To be talking with you guys right now is exciting. Everything that has happened since Saturday has been insane, it’s been crazy.”

\”It all happened so last minute.\”

Dakota Kai on her abrupt return to WWE.

Kai added that she has been wanting to work with Bayley and IYO SKY for a very long time.

Kai\’s Release

Kai was one of ten NXT Superstars released earlier this year, but her situation differed from others.

While Superstars such as Harland were cut for not showing improvement, Kai had reportedly received several main-roster dark matches, but WWE had no plans to push her to Raw or SmackDown.

Seeing herself in a rut, Kai reportedly told WWE that she did not plan on re-signing her contract when it expired in April 2023.

For the past two years, WWE has been releasing talent in massive waves, all under the reasoning of ‘budget cuts.’

Dozens of Superstars have had their time with WWE come to an abrupt end, with many finding success in AEW, New Japan or other promotions.

Wanting Out

While WWE has cut several Superstars in recent years, some names haven’t wanted to wait to be out of the company.

Several Superstars, including Cody Rhodes, Mustafa Ali, Brodie Lee/Luke Harper and Andrade El Idolo have all requested to be released from WWE, to varying degrees of success.

Speaking on the Cheap Heat podcast, Finn Balor was asked about Superstars who feel they don’t want to work for WWE anymore and has some surprising advice (via Wrestling Inc.)

“Yeah, for sure, and I tell them to go,” Balor said. “There’s a whole other world; I tell them to go. Sometimes we get caught up in the bubble that’s WWE, and there’s a whole world of wrestling outside there. If someone doesn’t want to be here, they should go.”

“There’s a whole other world; I tell them to go.”

Finn Balor on Superstars who want to leave WWE.

The Judgment Day gave a similarly curt reasoning for why he’s stayed with WWE after seeing so many Superstars, including old friends, leave.

“If you don’t want to work in WWE, don’t be here,” Balor said, reiterating his stance on what he tells talent who don’t want to stay. “… For me, I want to be to here, so that’s why I’m here.”

WWE has undergone dramatic changes over the past few weeks, ever since Vince McMahon resigned from all roles with the company.

In his place as head of Creative, Triple H has replaced his father-in-law, in addition to being appointed head of Talent Relations.

Many Superstars who have a history working with Triple H in NXT are reported to be optimistic about the future, and one Superstar, in particular, could soon be doing very well.

A Change in Presentation

Earlier this year, Ciampa was called up to the main roster, despite previously stating his intention to spend his WWE career in NXT.

Since joining the Raw roster, the two-time former NXT Champion has worked with The Miz, and big things are seemingly in his future.

Fightful reports that Ciampa is a personal favorite of Triple H, and is expected to benefit from \”the Game\” being in charge behind the scenes.

An idea pitched for Ciampa is for him to be put in more matches that showcase his in-ring ability, with a United States title match against Bobby Lashley confirmed on this week\’s Raw.

Another idea includes bringing back his theme from NXT, but Fightful stressed that this has not been confirmed.

Impressing People

Ciampa has received positive reviews behind the scenes ever since his call-up to Raw.

Specifically, he has been praised by peers and staff for his work with The Miz, and his willingness to embrace the role by the former WWE Champion\’s side.

One source called Ciampa\’s demeanor \”great\” and that he has worked hard to make the best of everything presented to him by Vince McMahon, despite once planning on never joining the main roster.

Over the past month, WWE has undergone several changes behind the scenes.

Vince McMahon is now retired, having made his announcement on Friday, July 22, a month after stepping down as WWE\’s CEO and Chairman.

Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan are now serving as the co-CEOs of WWE, while Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque has replaced Vince McMahon as WWE\’s head of creative.

Dana\’s Departure

A lot has changed behind the scenes as of late, including a departure from WWE\’s creative team.

According to a report from PW Insider, Dana Warrior is no longer working as part of the promotion\’s creative department.

While she is reported to have been backstage at last weekend\’s Summerslam Premium Live Event, it\’s noted that she was not working behind the scenes.

Warrior, the widow of WWE Hall of Famer the Ultimate Warrior, is said to have left the role months ago.

Prior to her departure from WWE\’s creative team, she had been working remotely from home and had not attended any of the weekly TV tapings in quite some time.

Warrior joined WWE\’s creative department in 2019, five years after joining the promotion as a community ambassador following her husband\’s death in April 2014.

Still with the Company

Dana Warrior is gone from WWE\’s creative department, but she remains a part of the company.

Warrior is continuing to work as part of WWE\’s Community Relations team and plays a significant role in the promotion\’s community outreach program.

She is also involved with the Warrior Award ceremony yearly at the WWE Hall Of Fame during WrestleMania weekend.

Last Friday, Vince McMahon announced his retirement, bringing an end to his four-decade career as part of WWE. 

McMahon\’s retirement comes one month after he stepped down as CEO and Chairman of WWE, due to the ongoing investigation against him. 

The former Chairman is alleged to have paid over $12 million to multiple women over 16 years in Non-Disclosure Agreements. 

The Tribal Chief reacts

Many WWE Superstars personally benefited from pushes by Vince McMahon, but few stars were treated better than Roman Reigns. 

Under McMahon, Reigns was pushed heavily as one of the company\’s biggest stars, earning a mixed response from fans. 

It wouldn\’t be until Reigns turned heel in August 2020 that he would win over his critics, and has dominated WWE since then. 

While signing autographs following a recent appearance on the Today Show, and was asked for his comments on McMahon\’s retirement.

\”I just wish him nothing but luck and happiness in the future. It\’s been great.\”

Roman Reign on Vince McMahon\’s retirement.

There\’s no word on what McMahon plans on doing with all his newly-acquired free time now that he\’s retired.

McMahon\’s Future

Vince McMahon may be retired, but that doesn\’t mean he\’ll be enjoying life away from WWE. 

After the two articles from the Wall Street Journal, which made the claims against McMahon, the authors have teased another article coming very soon, and have been speaking to former employees.

McMahon is still under investigation by WWE\’s board, who are under investigation themselves over claims they breached their duties to shareholders, by not mentioning the McMahon scandal prior to it going public

Over the past month, a lot has been said about retirements in wrestling.

Last week, Vince McMahon retired, a month after stepping down as CEO and Chairman of WWE due to the ongoing investigation into alleged misconduct with female employees.

This Sunday, Ric Flair will officially retire from wrestling, having his final ever match as part of Starrcast V.

A Happy Plan

WWE Superstar Happy Corbin is several decades younger than either McMahon or Flair, but he too has plans for his retirement.

Speaking with Rick Ucchino, Corbin said that he has already thought about when he will be finishing his time in WWE.

\”I want to have another five or ten years here in WWE, but eventually, like all athletes at some point, our body doesn’t keep up with our minds anymore.\”

Happy Corbin on when he plans on retiring from wrestling.

Corbin also spoke about what he\’ll do after he hangs up his wrestling boots for good, and has some strong connections with the Food Network.

I’ve made some good buddies in the Food Network world. Chef Aaron May is one of my good buddies. He’s always on Guy’s Grocery Games… I definitely want to get into that food world, whether it’s Food Network, or it’s my own YouTube stuff, or, you know, my buddy Aaron does a lot of stuff where he’s a guest, where he’s a celebrity sponsored cook… There’s a lot of really cool opportunities that food will bring when I’m done throwing people like Pat McAfee around in a ring.”

\”I definitely want to get into that food world, whether it’s Food Network, or it’s my own YouTube stuff.\”

Happy Corbin on plans for after he retires.

Corbin will face Pat McAfee at this Saturday\’s Summerslam Premium Live Event.

WWE Summerslam will take place this Saturday, in the first instance of the \’Biggest Party of the Summer\’ not taking place in August.

The show will feature some of WWE\’s biggest names, including Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Becky Lynch, and others.

These Superstars are established names of WWE, recognisable around the world, but WWE is looking for its next breakout stars.

The Tryouts

With one of WWE\’s biggest events of the year taking place this Saturday, the promotion has began hosting tryouts for potential future Superstars.

These tryouts will be the first of their kind in the post-Vince McMahon era, after the former WWE CEO and Chairman announced his retirement last Friday.

SEScoops will be on hand this Friday for Day 3 of the WWE Summerslam tryouts. SEScoops correspondent Ella Jay will provide an exclusive look inside the latest WWE Tryout Camp on the SEScoops social media channels.

Updates from the tryouts will be shared on our Twitter and Instagram pages.

The tyrouts also mark the first tryouts that Triple H will be attending since being appointed head of WWE Talent Relations and head of WWE Creative.

The \’King of Kings\’ has been joined by former WWE Champion Big E, who is continuing to recover from a broken neck suffered in March.

Paul Heyman

Paul Heyman is on hand and delivered this impassioned speech to the athletes:

TMZ Sports reports that NFL Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu\’s nephew, Talati Polamalu, is taking part in the tryouts.

Talati Polamalu is currently a rising senior offensive lineman at Georgetown.

Earlier this month, Cora Jade and Roxanne Perez captured the NXT Women\’s Tag Team Championships, but their reign was short-lived.

The next week, Perez was attacked at the start of NXT 2.0, ahead of her NXT Women\’s Championship match with Mandy Rose.

It was later revealed that Jade had betrayed her tag-team partner, attempting to take her out of the running so she could face Rose instead.

During last week\’s show, Jade threw her NXT Women\’s Tag Team Title in the trash, signifying the end of the team.

Blayze\’s Surprise Appearance

One person who knows all about throwing titles in the trash is WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze.

During last night\’s NXT 2.0, Perez was seen with her NXT Women\’s Tag Team Championship and was furious at Jade\’s actions given the work they\’d done to win the titles.

That\’s when Blayze appeared and revealed that a Tag Team Elimination Match will take place next week and that the winners will be crowned the new NXT Women\’s Tag Team Champions.

Blayze didn\’t confirm any teams for the match, but Kayden Carter and Katana Collins were featured in a backstage segment along with Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley.

The two teams brawled and it was revealed that Toxic Attraction and Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz will also be competing.

Blayze\’s history

It was in 1995, after leaving the WWF for WCW while still the former\’s Women\’s Champion, that Blayze infamously threw the title in a trashcan.

It has since been explained that Blayze wasn\’t comfortable with the action, but was made to do so by Eric Bischoff.

Due to the action, Blayze was blacklisted from WWE for years before returning to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2015.

Hours before the WWE Hell in a Cell event in June, Cody Rhodes suffered a torn pectoral muscle but still competed at the event.

Defeating Seth Rollins in the main event of Hell in a Cell, Rhodes was attacked by Rollins the next night on Raw, writing him off TV.

\”The American Nightmare\” hasn\’t competed since then but has been teasing a return to the ring.

Cody\’s Return?

WWE has said that Cody Rhodes will be out until March 2023, though many expect him to be back far sooner than that.

Some have suggested that the date WWE has given is to build up a surprisingly early return at next year\’s Royal Rumble.

Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, Rhodes addressed rumors of a return at January\’s Premium Live Event (via WrestleTalk.)

“My Royal Rumble stats are top 10, they’re phenomenal. So if I was to come back at that event, there is a chance I could actually get up in the top five and I’m all about that …. You never know! We’ll see.”

Rhodes currently boasts the ninth-longest cumulative time spent in Royal Rumble matches.

Cody\’s Rumble History

Cody\’s Royal Rumble stats are impressive, even though he has never won the prestigious 30-man match.

In his first Rumble in 2008, Cody, then a World Tag Team Champion lasted over 23 minutes, the eighth longest Superstar in the match.

A year later, Cody lasted over 37 minutes and was the second-to-last Superstar eliminated, making it to the final three.

Rhodes\’ most impressive Royal Rumble performance was in 2012 when he lasted 41:59, the second-longest in the match behind The Miz.

He also eliminated six Superstars in that match, more than anyone else in the 2012 Rumble.

This week, Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE, after decades of running the company.

McMahon\’s retirement comes one month after he stepped down as CEO and Chairman of the Board, due to the allegations of misconduct against multiple female employees.

McMahon is alleged to have paid over $12 million in Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) over 16 years.

Will He Stay Retired?

For years, it was said that the only way McMahon would ever relinquish control of WWE is when he passes away, so the choice to retire is rightly being seen as a huge deal.

While McMahon has insisted that he is finished with WWE, there are some who are skeptical about how long this will last.

Fightful Select reports that some in WWE don\’t see McMahon\’s retirement as long-lasting, given that he has little hobbies or social circle outside of pro wrestling. (via Wrestling Inc.)

\”I’m not banking on anything being permanent,\” one source said. \”Triple H was phased out, Stephanie was phased out, Bruce left the company for a decade, Johnny has been in and out, and none of them has the power Vince does. I’m not convinced that he can actually stay away, especially if he feels the heat has died down.\”

\”I’m not banking on anything being permanent… I’m not convinced that he can actually stay away.\”

The \’Heat\’

If Vince McMahon is waiting for the heat of these recent scandals to die down, then he may be waiting a very long time.

Reporters from the Wall Street Journal have said that they are conducting interviews with former WWE Superstars, and a third article is expected to be published.