SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Read WWE’s Memo to Employees After Latest Vince McMahon Bombshell

    WWE has sent an internal memo to their employees following another bombshell article by the Wall Street Journal.

    The Journal reported in May 2022 that McMahon allegedly arranged a $3 million payout to a female paralegal with whom he had an affair.

    Today, a second report from the WSJ claims that McMahon has had four affairs over the past 16 years in WWE, with close to $12 million being paid in \’hush money.

    The Memo

    WWE shared the following message within the company:

    \”The Wall Street Journal has published a second story with expanded details on its initial WWE report last month. We want to reiterate that we and our Board of Directors take these allegations seriously.

    We’ve been cooperating fully with the investigation led by our Board of Directors and will continue to do so until its conclusion. Please note that upon its conclusion, WWE leadership will make itself available to answer any questions you may have.

    Thank you.\”

    What\’s Next?

    While many believed that McMahon would survive the scandal when it was just one woman he is alleged to have had an affair with, the three new claims against him change everything.

    In the case of one of the women, a former WWE Superstar who departed in 2005, it is reported that she was coerced to perform oral sex on the Chairman despite not wishing to.

    McMahon has said he will respect the result of the investigation no matter what the findings may be.

    As he has stepped down from the role of CEO and Chair of WWE, Stephanie McMahon has filled both positions on an interim basis.

    Vince McMahon Steps Down, Stephanie McMahon Named Interim WWE CEO & Chairwoman

  • Ilja Dragunov Forced to Vacate WWE NXT UK Championship

    WWE has a loaded roster right now, but several of the promotion\’s top Superstars are currently on the injured list.

    Cody Rhodes isn\’t expected back for months after tearing his pectoral muscle just hours before the WWE Hell in a Cell Premium Live Event last month.

    Randy Orton has been out of action for over a month now, while Rhea Ripley had to be pulled from a Raw Women\’s Championship match due to a brain injury.

    The Champion Vacates

    Now, another WWE Superstar is out, and it has cost them their championship.

    At the start of the latest NXT UK television tapings, NXT UK Champion Ilja Dragunov vacated the title due to an undisclosed injury.

    Reports from the BT Studios in London, England note that Dragunov was spotted wearing a protective boot over one of his legs.

    An eight-man tournament began during the tapings to crown a new champion with Tyler Bate, Trent Seven, Mark Coffey, and Oliver Carter all advancing to the next round.

    Dragunov\’s Reign

    Dragunov\’s reign marks the first time the NXT UK Championship has been vacated.

    His title reign began in August 2021, ending the record-breaking 870-day reign of WALTER, now Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER.

    Dragunov had six successful title defenses during his reign, retaining his title against A-Kid (Axiom), Jordan Devlin (JD McDonagh), Rampage Brown, Roderick Strong, and Nathan Frazier.

    Ilja\’s reign has ended at 320 days, making him the third-longest reigning NXT UK Champion.

  • Worrying Update About Top AEW Star

    All Elite Wrestling has proven to be incredibly popular with fans, but the company is dealing with plenty of injuries at this time.

    Former World Champion Kenny Omega is still out of action with his last match taking place at last year\’s Full Gear, and reigning AEW World Champion CM Punk is also injured.

    Recently, Tony Khan confirmed that Santana is injured and there\’s a worrying update about one of the promotion\’s biggest stars.

    Danielson\’s Update

    Bryan Danielson is one of AEW\’s top stars, but he too is dealing with an injury.

    Danielson hasn\’t competed since AEW Double or Nothing 2022, where the Blackpool Combat Club lost to the Jericho Appreciation Society in the Anarchy in the Arena match.

    Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that there\’s still no word on when Danielson could be cleared to wrestle.

    “I know in real life and everything like that he’s fine, he can function, he can do everything. But as far as being cleared to wrestle, — no one knows – getting cleared from a concussion can be any time. There’s no timeframe.\”

    \”no one knows – getting cleared from a concussion can be any time. There’s no timeframe.\”

    Dave Meltzer on Bryan Danielson\’s injury.

    Danielson\’s injury forced him to miss Forbidden Door and the Blood and Guts match on the following Dynamite.

    Danielson and Concussions

    Danielson is out with a concussion, which has some fans worried given his history of concussions.

    In 2014, a neck injury and concussion forced Danielson to vacate the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and he retired two years later due to concussions.

    In 2018, Danielson was cleared to wrestle again and returned at that year\’s WrestleMania 34 Pay Per View.

    AEW Stars Appear on WWE Raw to Salute John Cena

  • Buff Bagwell Addresses Recent Twitter Controversy

    Like many wrestlers, Buff Bagwell has a Twitter profile that allows fans to keep up to date with the former WCW World Tag Team Champion.

    This week though, Bagwell\’s name was trending for all the wrong reasons as fans began criticizing some of the comments they have received from his account.

    There were also issues raised by fans who say they purchased Buff Bagwell merchandise only to not receive it.

    Bagwell\’s Response

    In a YouTube video, Bagwell addressed the situation head-on, saying that \”a guy named Michael Long\” has been operating his account.

    Bagwell admitted that a lot of fans paid for \”certain merchandise that they ordered\” and apologized for this mistake.

    He added that while fans paid, he did not see any of that money and plans on getting to the bottom of this.

    Long reportedly also has a criminal record, according to Bagwell, which the wrestler said he was unaware of when hiring Long to the position in charge of his social media.

    Bagwell also promised to deal with that situation on his own.

    Addressing claims that he wasn\’t tweeting a lot and it was mostly Long who tweeted on his behalf, Bagwell said that he and his team discuss things when he is away, but that he is still a huge part of his Twitter profile.

    Nevertheless, Buff promised to be more \”activated\” with his online presence.

    Bagwell finished the video, which can be viewed below, saying he plans on making sure controversies like these do not happen again.

  • Wrestling Entertainment Series Confirm Debut Show has been Canceled

    Former WWE tag team the Authors of Pain had hoped their Wrestling Entertainment Series promotion would be the next big thing in the industry, but the company has had a rocky time so far.

    After announcing a stacked card, including several former WWE Superstars, the company faced criticism from some wrestlers associated with the show, some of which were still featured on promotional materials after announcing that they wouldn\’t be appearing.

    This Saturday was meant to see WES\’ debut show in Nottingham, England, but that\’s no longer the case.

    The Statement

    In a statement, WES confirmed that the debut show at the Motorpoint Arena was no longer happening.

    The promotion said they were \”deeply disappointed\” that the show would not go ahead as planned, and had some choice words about one member of the roster.

    WES said that all wrestlers who were promoted for the show will be paid in full, including Lina Fanene (Nia Jax) who they said will be paid her deposit even after she \”changed her mind and did not want to show up and wrestle anymore.\”

    The full statement can be read below.

    \"Image\"

    Mojo\’s Response

    One name who had not pulled out of the show is Mojo Rawley, who tweeted that it is \”unfortunate\” to see WES\’ debut show be canceled.

    Mojo added that while he won\’t be wrestling, he will be doing a free meet and greet with fans who bought tickets to WES this Sunday.

    Fans who did not purchase a ticket will have to pay for the meet and greet, though the former 24/7 Champion has promised that 100% of all money raised will go to the UK talent who have yet to be paid by WES.

    Matthew Rehwoldt: ‘WES Has Cost Me Time & Money,’ Doesn’t Think Their Debut Show Will Happen

  • Don\’t Expect AEW Star to Return Anytime Soon

    AEW has been plagued with injuries over the past month, with several stars being taken out of action.

    AEW World Champion CM Punk announced his injury just days after he captured the title from \’Hangman\’ Adam Page, and Bryan Danielson is also said to have suffered an injury and hasn\’t wrestled in over a month.

    Former World Champion Kenny Omega continues to be away recovering from surgery after dealing with multiple injuries, and now another star is out of commission.

    Santana injured

    During the recent Blood and Guts match, Santana competed and had a spot that didn\’t go according to plan.

    Santana had an awkward uranage spot with Daniel Garcia mere minutes after he entered the double cage, which led many to believe Santana is injured.

    While speaking on Busted Open Radio, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed the news that Santana is injured, saying it \”could be a relatively long injury.\” 

    Khan added that he spoke to Santana after Blood & Guts, ensuring the wrestler that the company will stand by him throughout his recovery.

    Khan gave no specific time window as to when Santana will be back in the ring.

    His previous injury

    This is a bad time for Santana, but not the first time he\’s had to deal with an injury.

    In May 2019, while working for Impact Wrestling, Santana suffered a stage two tear in his MCL.

    Santana was cleared to wrestle that same month, but would finish up with Impact in early August, and debuted for AEW at All Out on August 31.

  • Latest on the Creative Team for WWE NXT 2.0

    Last September, WWE NXT underwent its biggest change in close to a decade, being revamped into NXT 2.0.

    The revamp saw a huge change to the roster, with stars like Bron Breakker and Joe Gacy thrust into the spotlight, while established names including Bronson Reed and Bobby Fish were cut.

    It wasn\’t just the roster that was changed however, as the power dynamics behind the scenes altered drastically.

    Vince McMahon took over the reins of the brand from his son-in-law Triple H, a decision that fans were vehemently opposed to.

    The Current Creative Team

    It was recently reported that Triple H has returned to full-time duties with WWE, following his cardiac event last September that forced him to retire as an in-ring Superstar.

    Given Triple H\’s association with WWE NXT, many believed that this is a sign that the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion is back in charge of the revamped brand.

    According to PW Insider, that isn\’t the case, as the creative team still reports to Bruce Prichard, who was brought to NXT by Vince McMahon during the September relaunch.

    Johnny Russo is serving as head writer, working with others including Nick Bonnano.

    George Carroll has also returned to WWE to serve as part of the creative team for NXT, after being released from the company in January this year.

    Major NXT Championship Changes Hands at The Great American Bash

  • Read Paige’s Emotional Goodbye Letter Ahead of WWE Departure

    The WWE locker room is brimming with talent, but the company is about to lose one of their most-established stars.

    Paige\’s contract will expire tomorrow, July 7, bringing an end to her lengthy run in WWE.

    The former Divas Champion has said that this was not her decision, but that WWE has chosen not to renew her contract with the company.

    Paige\’s Letter

    In an emotional letter, Paige said that fans can call her Saraya now, as this is her real name, and what she will be working as from now on.

    While Saraya has made it clear she would rather stay with WWE, she has come to terms with her departure tomorrow and is pleased with what she has accomplished.

    \”I\’ve known this moment would be coming for a while, but it almost didn’t seem real. Now that it is real, though, I’m just overwhelmed with gratitude.\”

    Saraya.

    Saraya also spoke about several issues outside the ring, including her neck injuries, her Wellness Policy violations, and a sex tape being leaked.

    \”I became less of an asset to WWE, and more of a liability, for a long time. I’m sure of it. But they never lost faith in me.\”

    Saraya

    The former Divas Champion also appreciated being given a segment for her retirement speech, saying it meant a lot that she was being treated the same as Edge and Daniel Bryan, who had similar segments in 2011 and 2016.

    \"Saraya

    Saraya concluded by speaking of interim WWE CEO and Chairwoman Stephanie McMahon who comforted her during a battle of anxiety ahead of her on-screen return in 2017.

    \”she [Stephanie] just held me for a minute. She gave me the biggest, longest hug. And she said, “Hey — everyone out there loves you. They’re going to be excited to see you. You want to know why? Because you’re a survivor

    Saraya.

    You can read the entire letter by clicking the link here.

    Paige Books First Post-WWE Appearance

  • Fans Speculate on Mysterious QR Code During WWE NXT Great American Bash

    Last night was NXT 2.0\’s Great American Bash which saw some of the brand\’s top Superstars face off.

    The show saw new NXT Women\’s Tag Team Champions be crowned, as well as Carmelo Hayes retain his NXT North American Championship.

    In the main event, NXT Champion Bronn Breakker retained against Cameron Grimes, only to be attacked by JD McDonagh.

    NXT Great American Bash 2022 was certainly a stacked show, but one part, in particular, has got fans talking.

    The Code

    During Great American Bash, a strange QR code appeared on screen, which led fans to an even stranger message.

    When fans scanned the code, it took them to a website with a simple message on it.

    8:10:11

    WWE has given no explanation as to what the code could be.

    What could it mean?

    WWE has not given any idea what the message means, but that hasn\’t stopped fans from trying to decipher the code.

    With Triple H recently returning to NXT, some have suggested that the set of numbers has something to do with him, given that H is the eighth letter of the alphabet.

    However, that doesn\’t explain 10 or 11, which would represent the letters J and K.

    Others have suggested that this is a countdown timer, and if the 8 represents weeks, would countdown to the Tuesday, August 30, episode of NXT.

    Some fans have googled the combination of numbers that send them to verses from the Bible.

    None of these passages can be seen to be directly related to any kind of story that could happen in WWE NXT 2.0.

    Major NXT Championship Changes Hands at The Great American Bash

  • Former WWE Ref Isn\’t Thrilled with Liv Morgan\’s Cash-In

    At Money in the Bank 2022, Liv Morgan won the Women\’s Ladder Match, guaranteeing her a championship match at a time of her choosing for up to a year.

    Morgan didn\’t waste time in picking her moment, as mere hours later she cashed in on Ronda Rousey, who had retained the SmackDown Women\’s Championship against Natalya.

    Winning the title from Ripley, many felt this was the perfect moment for Morgan, though not everyone is pleased.

    Korderas Weighs In

    Speaking on his \’Reffin Rant,\’ former WWE official Jimmy Korderas said he wasn\’t a fan of Morgan\’s booking.

    While Korderas said it was a nice surprise, he believes that Morgan shouldn\’t have cashed in the way she did (via Wrestling Inc.)

    “It was a nice surprise. It got the huge pop it wanted, but is it the way a babyface should win a championship and cash in their Money In The Bank? That’s the only issue I had. Yes, the crowd did love it, but at the same time, babyfaces don’t do it that way. Maybe, if she came in and said to Ronda Rousey, ‘I want to cash this in, are you ready?’ And Ronda said, ‘Okay,’ and then do it, then you can make a case for that.”

    \”Is it the way a babyface should win a championship and cash in their Money In The Bank?\”

    Jimmy Korderas on Liv Morgan\’s Money in the Bank cash-in

    Faces Cashing In

    While babyfaces have cashed in Money in the Bank in the past, it is rare to see them cash in on a fellow babyface.

    In 2006, Rob Van Dam announced in advance he was cashing in on face WWE Champion John Cena, who received a hostile reaction from the ECW One Night Stand 2006 crowd.

    While Daniel Bryan, Kane, and CM Punk (in 2009) were all faces when they cashed in on babyfaces (Big Show, Rey Mysterio, and Jeff Hardy respectively,) the three briefcase holders all turned heel shortly after.

    Ronda Rousey Made “Demand” About Losing the SmackDown Women’s Title

  • AEW Star Shares Update Amid Contract Rumors

    Chuck Taylor has been with AEW since the early days of the company, signing with the promotion in February 2019.

    Taylor has spent much of his time in the All-Elite promotion teaming with Trent Beretta, though the pairing are yet to hold AEW World Tag Team Championship gold.

    In 2022, Taylor has spent much of his time on AEW\’s developmental shows Dark and Dark: Elevation, but recently, some believed that they had seen the last of him in AEW.

    Taylor\’s Contract

    Last week, Taylor got a lot of fans talking when he blacked out his social media account.

    Many saw this as Chuck signifying that his career with AEW has ended, as several three-year deals signed in 2019 are set to expire this year.

    In an update on Twitter though, Taylor confirmed that he is still with AEW, at least for the time being.

    In the tweet, which features a GIF from AEW Dark: Elevation, Chuck said that he hasn\’t been fired yet.

    https://twitter.com/SexyChuckieT/status/1544105532016959489

    Taylor didn\’t explain why he blacked out his social media profile, which has since been returned to normal.

    Departures from AEW

    Chuck Taylor may still be with AEW for the time being, but the company has experienced something of an exodus in talent this year.

    Joey Janela, Alan Angels, Marko Stunt and Stu Grayson have all left AEW in recent weeks, and it has been reported that several \’under the radar\’ stars have also parted the company.

    AEW\’s biggest departure this year was Cody Rhodes, who returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38.

    Chuck Taylor Labels Rivalry Between AEW And NXT ‘Fake Bulls**t’

  • Booker T is all for Theory dethroning Roman Reigns

    At Money in the Bank 2022, Theory captured the Men\’s briefcase, earning a guaranteed championship opportunity at a time of his choosing.

    Theory has certainly been on the receiving end of a major push in recent months, but many have questioned this decision.

    Right now, the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship is firmly in the grasp of Roman Reigns, and many doubt how the cocky young Superstar could be a threat to \”The Tribal Chief.\”

    Booker T\’s Comments

    Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T discussed Theory\’s win last Saturday night, and said that dethroning Roman Reigns makes sense for the former United States Champion.

    \”It\’s not losing, but it\’s how you lose. He could beat Roman, he could beat anybody on the card if the situation is right. If a person is unconscious when I cash in, who loses? If you book it properly, Theory is not going to be one of the guys that got the briefcase and didn\’t cash it in and win it. I don\’t see that happening.\”

    He continued, \”This kid has got way too much upside for something like that to happen. That\’s just me and what I would be thinking if I had Theory in this position.\”

    \”He could beat anybody on the card if the situation is right.\”

    Booker T on Theory possibly cashing in on Roman Reigns.

    H/T Sportskeeda

    Theory\’s other title opportunity

    Theory could (in theory) be the next Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, but that\’s not the only piece of gold on his mind.

    It has been confirmed that at Summerslam, Theory will take on new United States Champion Bobby Lashley for the title.

    Theory lost the U.S. Title to Lashley at Money in the Bank prior to winning the Men\’s Ladder match, making him the first Superstar to lose a title and win the coveted briefcase on the same night.

    The Next Face of WWE

    On the topic of Who is the next Face of WWE?, we recently wrote this feature looking at 5 WWE Superstars that we feel have the potential to carry the company after Roman Reigns:

    5 WWE Superstars Who Could Replace Roman Reigns

  • Cameron Grimes is Ready to Face one of WWE\’s Greatest Superstars

    Cameron Grimes has been on a roll as of late in WWE NXT 2.0 and is a former NXT North American Champion.

    Grimes has proven himself to be one of the biggest stars of NXT 2.0 right now, but he is ready to step into the ring with arguably WWE\’s biggest ever name.

    Grimes lays out the Challenge

    Cameron Grimes has faced plenty of names in WWE NXT 2.0 so far in his career, but he now has his sights on John Cena.

    Speaking to Sportskeeda, Grimes was asked about his future plans in WWE and laid out the challenge to the 16-time WWE World Champion.

    \”When I win the NXT Championship, I would love to defend that against John Cena. I feel like anyone that’s in this business would love the opportunity to be against John Cena in any type of light. You can book it in a Coconut show in Largo. I don’t care if it’s on television. You can just do it in the Performance Center, and we won’t even have to turn the cameras on and I would love that opportunity.\”

    \”Anyone that’s in this business would love the opportunity to be against John Cena.\”

    Cameron Grimes explains why he wants to face John Cena.

    What\’s next for Big Match John?

    It may be a while before fans see John Cena Vs. Cameron Grimes, but Cena did recently return to WWE.

    On last week\’s Raw, Cena returned to the show to mark the 20th anniversary of his main roster debut and had a backstage confrontation with Theory.

    While many believed this would set up a match between the two at Summerslam 2022 that no longer appears to be the case.

    Theory will instead face United States Champion Bobby Lashley at the July 30 Premium Live Event.

  • AEW\’s PPV Schedule Could Be Changing

    AEW has proven to be popular with fans ever since the company began back in January 2019.

    In May of that year, the promotion held its first Pay Per View, Double or Nothing, and the company now hosts a handful of Pay Per Views a year.

    In addition to Double or Nothing, AEW also hosts annual Revolution, All Out and Full Gear events.

    This year, AEW added the Forbidden Door show to its schedule, but now a major change is coming.

    Changing up the Schedule

    \"AEW
    AEW All Out logo

    During an episode of Wrestling Observer Live, it was reported that more Pay Per Views may be coming to AEW.

    More specifically, WarnerMedia has been interested in adding more Pay Per Views, and AEW are in agreement with that plan.

    Andrew Zarian explained that AEW had made it clear that when it comes to Pay Per Views \”they would love to do them more.\”

    Zarian also noted that the Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor Pay Per View announcement came days after he was told that Warner Media wanted more shows from All Elite Wrestling.

    Its speculated that Death Before Dishonor could be a test between AEW and B/R Live to see if there is enough demand from the audience to have more shows in this format.

    Zarian also speculated that a new deal may already be in place between Tony Khan and WarnerMedia for the latter to air ROH content.

    AEW has not confirmed any new Pay Per Views, though it is believed that one of their Dynamite special events could be turned into a fully-fledged weekend event.

    Forbidden Door Early PPV Estimate Revealed

  • Alexa Bliss \”Very Sad\” She no Longer Works with Released WWE star

    Alexa Bliss has been with WWE for many years now, and has seen plenty of Superstars come and go.

    Since April 2020, WWE has cut Superstars in droves in the name of budget cuts, with multiple former World Champions being cut.

    Seeing your colleagues and friends lose their jobs has understandably been difficult for the remaining locker room and there\’s one name Bliss especially misses.

    Bliss and Bray Wyatt

    Speaking on the Out of Character podcast, Bliss recalled working with Bray Wyatt, her brought out a darker character in her in mid-2020.

    Bliss said how she loved working with Wyatt and it is unfortunate that he\’s no longer with the company.

    \”Oh my gosh. Working with The Fiend, with Windham was the most fun I\’ve ever had in my entire WWE career. He is so brilliant with his creativity and he puts so much effort into his character. So much research. It made me wanna step my game up, 100%. Being like, \’Okay, he puts this much thought to his character. I need to put twice as much thought in mine.\’\”

    She continued, \”Because when you step into someone else\’s gimmick, you don\’t want to bring it down. So I put in so much effort into that and protecting the character, protecting when we did the Firefly Fun House. It was so fun. It\’s very sad that we don\’t work together anymore, because it was so much fun. I think the WWE Universe saw how much fun we\’re having.\”

    \”It\’s very sad that we don\’t work together anymore.\”

    Alexa Bliss on not working with Bray Wyatt anymore.

    Wyatt was released from WWE in July 2021, a decision that shocked fans given the popularity of his \’The Fiend\’ character.

    He has yet to appear for any other major wrestling promotion.

    If you use any quotes from the article please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

    Alexa Bliss ‘Didn’t Care’ About The Negative Reaction To Her Dark Persona

  • Bret Hart Returning to Calgary for Upcoming Wrestling Event

    When it comes to Canadian wrestlers, few are more beloved or more accomplished than Bret \’The Hitman\’ Hart.

    Hart\’s legendary career in the ring saw him capture both the WWF and WCW World Championships, as well as several other titles as both a singles and tag-team wrestler.

    \”The Hitman\” also has two WWE Hall of Fame inductions to his name (2006 as a singles Superstar, 2019 for his work in The Hart Foundation) but now the \”Excellence of Execution\” is heading back to Calgary.

    The Event

    According to the Daily Hive, Calgary will host a “Ring a Ding Dong Dandy” of a wrestling show.

    On July 9, the Romero Distillery will host \’Romero Rumble,\’ which will feature an appearance by Hart.

    Bret, who turned 65 years old last Saturday, will be doing a meet and greet with fans for the event, which takes place 25 years after the iconic WWF In Your House: Canadian Stampede Pay Per View.

    A Family Affair

    Bret will be the biggest name to appear at Romero Rumble, but he\’s not the only Hart in town.

    The card will also see Davey Boy Smith Jr. the son of Bret\’s brother-in-law in action, as the former WWE Superstar takes on Raj Singh.

    Raj is the son of Gama Singh, who spent 16 years in Stampede Wrestling, the promotion Bret\’s father Stu owned.

    Brian Pillman Jr. the son of “The Loose Cannon” Brian Pillman, a teammate of Bret in the Hart Foundation, will face local talent Mo Jabari.

    Bret Hart Mad At Goldberg for Earning Millions After His Career-Ending Concussion

  • Inside WWE’s Backstage Talent Meeting Before Money in the Bank

    WWE Money in the Bank 2022 was another big night for the company, but especially for Stephanie McMahon.

    Last Saturday\’s show marked the first Premium Live Event under McMahon\’s watch as interim CEO and Chairwoman of WWE, filling the role left vacant by her father.

    Vince McMahon has stepped down from the roles due to the ongoing investigation into an alleged affair and arranged $3 million hush money payout to a paralegal who left WWE this year.

    The Meeting

    PW Insider was the first to report that Stephanie McMahon had a meeting with talent backstage on the night of Money in the Bank 2022.

    One source called it a \”rah rah\” meeting to show the Superstars that WWE is still \”one big family working together.\”

    Triple H was also in attendance at the meeting, reiterating reports that he is back working for WWE full-time after his cardiac event last September.

    There were no new details revealed related to the investigation into Vince McMahon, or the several other investigations into WWE\’s business practices.

    There was no update on John Laurinaitis, who has been placed on extended leave due to the McMahon investigation but remains employed by WWE at this time.

    Stephanie and Triple H led the meeting but other important names were in attendance, including WWE President Nick Khan.

    It is not confirmed whether Vince McMahon attended the meeting.

    Some WWE Superstars were said to have booked their matches for Money in the Bank late due to being delayed by the meeting.

    Vince McMahon Steps Down, Stephanie McMahon Named Interim WWE CEO & Chairwoman

  • The Undertaker Reacts to Israel Adesanya’s UFC 276 Walkout

    Israel Adesanya competed at this weekend\’s UFC 276 event, and once again dominated in the Octagon.

    In his 12th consecutive win, Adesanya retained the UFC Middleweight Championship over Jared Cannonier, albeit in a match many found boring.

    The match may not have gone down well with audiences, but Adesanya\’s entrance caused quite a stir online.

    Walking to the Octagon, Adesanya had an entrance in tribute to The Undertaker, complete with hat, urn, and using \”The Phenom\’s\” iconic entrance music.

    The Undertaker Reacts

    Speaking to Ariel Helwani, The Undertaker was asked about his thoughts on the entrance and was all for it.

    \”I thought it was great! He’s not only a great fighter, he’s an awesome entertainer as well! Tyson Fury gets knocked down & sits up like the UT and Adesanya uses my walkout! Pretty damn cool!”

    The Undertaker on Israel Adesanya\’s entrance.

    Click here for more MMA News and coverage of UFC 276.

    The McMahons in attendance

    Adesanya paid tribute to The Undertaker with his entrance, but there were some actual wrestling personalities in attendance at UFC 276.

    Ahead of the main event, Vince McMahon, interim WWE CEO, and Chairwoman Stephanie McMahon, and Triple H were all spotted in the crowd.

    Pat McAfee sat with them though sported a neck brace for the show.

    Earlier in the night, McAfee had been attacked by Baron Corbin after WWE\’s Money in the Bank 2022 Premium Live Event.

    The McMahons & Pat McAfee Show up to UFC 276

  • Ronda Rousey Made \”Demand\” About Losing the SmackDown Women’s Title

    Ronda Rousey\’s reign as SmackDown Women\’s Champion is over, less than two months after it began. She captured the title on May 8 at WrestleMania Backlash. Her reign ended at at just 55 days with Liv Morgan successfully cashing in her Money in the Bank briefcase.

    Fans were surprised to see Rousey drop the title so suddenly, especially as her reign as Raw Women\’s Champion from 2018 to 2019 was 231 days long, a record at the time.

    Rousey\’s Request

    According to a source close to the Baddest Woman on the Planet, Rousey had already put plans in motion about her title loss early into her run as SmackDown Women\’s Champion.

    On social media, Rousey\’s personal photographer said that the now-former Champion who \”never wanted or asked\” to win the title.

    Rousey\’s photographer also said that the \”Baddest Woman on the Planet\” had \”demanded\” that the most passionate member of the locker room be the one who defeat her for the SmackDown Women\’s Title.

    What\’s next for Liv?

    Morgan\’s win this weekend marks her first Money in the Bank Ladder match victory and her first taste of Championship gold in WWE.

    With Summerslam less than a month away, it\’s expected that Morgan will defend her title on the July 30, Premium Live Event.

    On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that the plan is for Morgan to defend against Rousey at Summerslam.

    There has also been speculation that Charlotte Flair could be involved to reignite her feud with Ronda, who dethroned her for the title at WrestleMania Backlash.

    WWE have yet to confirm the rumored SmackDown Women\’s Championship match for the Summerslam card.

    Wrestling World Reacts To Liv Morgan’s Emotional Money In The Bank Victory

  • How Does WWE Feel About Moving Money in the Bank to a Smaller Venue?

    WWE Money in the Bank 2022 is officially in the history books and the show saw major changes take place.

    Not only did Liv Morgan and Theory capture the Women\’s and Men\’s Money in the Bank briefcases, but Morgan also cashed in to capture the SmackDown Women\’s Championship.

    The show had originally been advertised for Allegiant Stadium, but the event was moved to the MGM Grand Arena.

    WWE gave no explanation behind the move, though many believe that poor ticket sales at the much larger stadium led to the move.

    Locker Room Reactions

    Per Fightful – the move “surprised some\” in the company, as WWE President Nick Khan had spoken highly of stadium events.

    Khan has been pushing for more stadium shows to take place though one source said that they should have waited until after June\’s Hell in a Cell event before making any changes.

    The source believes that WWE was relying too much on the buzz of the premium live event alone instead of the stories going into the show.

    Others in WWE told Fightful that WWE locked down Allegiant Stadium early, as they expected UFC to be in Vegas during Independence Day weekend.

    Another source called booking Allegiant Stadium \”one of [Khan’s] first misfires\” since being appointed WWE President by former CEO Vince McMahon.

    A different source remained optimistic, saying that between the move and the absence of injured talent including Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton and Rhea Ripley that Money in the Bank 2022 wasn\’t \”too bad.\”

    Watch What Happened With Pat McAfee After MITB Went Off The Air

  • UFC Fighter Makes Entrance as The Undertaker for Title Fight

    The WWE is a massive, multi-billion-dollar brand that has reached almost every corner of the globe.

    Some of the biggest names in entertainment are self-confessed wrestling fans, and the world of UFC is not immune to the influence of the McMahon-led promotion.

    Last night\’s UFC 276 saw the McMahon family, as well as Pat McAfee, attend the show, but one fighter decided to channel one of WWE\’s biggest ever stars ahead of his title match.

    Adesanya channels The Phenom

    For his match, Israel Adesanya walked out to the Octagon with an entrance fitting the legendary Undertaker from WWE.

    Adesanya wore a black hat and carried an urn with him ahead of his bout with Jared Cannonier.

    In case the references to The Undertaker weren\’t clear enough, Adesanya, a middleweight, entered the show to \”The Phenom\’s\” iconic music.

    Adesanya earned a loud pop from the crowd who enjoyed his reference to the legendary WWE Hall of Famer.

    The Fight

    In his 12th consecutive win, Adesanya retained his UFC Middleweight Championship against Cannonier in a hotly-contested fight.

    After going five rounds, Israel was awarded the win via a unanimous judge\’s decision.

    Post-match, the two fighters embraced and Adesanya gave some words of his wisdom to his defeated opponent.

    The Undertaker Sees Megastar Potential in Bianca Belair

  • The McMahons & Pat McAfee Show up to UFC 276

    Last night was WWE Money in the Bank 2022, the latest Premium Live Event by the company and the first of the Stephanie McMahon era.

    The show saw Liv Morgan and Theory capture the two titular Money in the Bank briefcases, with Morgan cashing in hours later to win the SmackDown Women\’s Championship.

    Even without names like Brock Lesnar, Cody Rhodes or Roman Reigns, Money in the Bank was a huge event, but it wasn\’t the only big show around.

    The McMahons at UFC

    Money in the Bank 2022 aired from Las Vegas, as did the recent UFC 276 show.

    Given that the two shows were so close, several names from WWE made the trip and were spotted in attendance for the mixed-martial-arts Pay Per View.

    Vince McMahon, Triple H, Interim WWE Chairwoman and CEO Stephanie McMahon and Pat McAfee were all present on camera and seemed pleased to be there.

    The UFC Europe account later tweeted about the four WWE personalities at the event.

    Stephanie\’s Busy Night

    Stephanie McMahon was at UFC 276, but that was just part of a full night for the WWE Chairwoman.

    According to WrestleVotes, McMahon was also present at Money in the Bank 2022, and had a meeting with talent before the show got started.

    It\’s reported that the Interim WWE CEO met with stars at the MGM Grand Arena to discuss a multitude of topics, though WrestleVotes didn\’t confirm what was said specifically.

    One source said that the meeting between McMahon and her employees was \”generally well-received.\”

  • WWE Changes History – Omits AEW Star on SmackDown

    Tonight, WWE will host their annual Money in the Bank Premium Live Event which will feature two of the show\’s titular ladder matches.

    Since 2005, 26 Superstars have cashed in the briefcase, with 22 of those attempts being successful, giving the Money in the Bank contract holder an impressive 84.6% chance of becoming champion.

    During this week\’s SmackDown, the build continued towards Money in the Bank, but one Superstar tried to rewrite history.

    The A-Lister\’s Comments

    During a segment last night, Raw\’s very own The Miz made a trip to SmackDown and had some choice words about the Money in the Bank Ladder match.

     In a backstage segment with Happy Corbin, Ezekiel, and Madcap Moss along with WWE Official Adam Pearce, The Miz claimed to be the only two-time winner of the Money in the Bank briefcase.

    While The Miz is a two-time winner, capturing the briefcase in 2010 in a ladder match, and again in 2020 by defeating Otis, he isn\’t the only double-winner.

    Rewriting History

    In addition to The Miz, there have been other two-time winners, including AEW World Champion CM Punk.

    Punk won back-to-back ladder matches at WrestleManias 24 and 25, and cashed in both times successfully, defeating Edge and Jeff Hardy in 2008 and 2009 respectively to become World Heavyweight Champion.

    Given that The Miz included his non-ladder match briefcase win over Otis, then it stands that Edge is also a two-time briefcase winner.

    Edge won the inaugural MITB Ladder match in 2005 and defeated Mr. Kennedy during a 2007 Raw to win the latter\’s briefcase.

    There is also the argument that Carmella is a two-time winner, having won the first Women\’s MITB Ladder match in 2017.

    After James Ellsworth helped her win the match, the Briefcase was defended in a ladder match on the following SmackDown which Carmella also won.

    Three Potential WWE Money in the Bank 2022 Returns

  • Logan Paul is Coming to WWE Raw

    This week, Logan Paul signed a new multi-year deal with WWE in one of the biggest signings for the company in recent years.

    While Paul has limited wrestling experience prior to signing, he has a massive fanbase from his work on YouTube and has also proven himself in boxing.

    Paul is the latest big-name WWE is counting on to help boost both ticket sales and viewership figures, and fans won\’t have to wait long to see him on their screens.

    Paul on Raw

    Fans may still be taken aback by Paul\’s signing to WWE, but he\’ll be on Raw later this month.

    Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful is reporting that Paul is locally being advertised for the July 18, edition of the red brand which will air from the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.

    There\’s no official word yet on what Paul will do during his appearance later this month.

    Logan Paul at Summerslam

    WWE have not confirmed what Paul will be doing on the July 18, Raw, but it\’s believed he\’ll have some sort of run-in with The Miz.

    As soon as Paul signed his contract, fans speculated on a match with the two-time WWE Grand Slam Champion, who betrayed Paul at WrestleMania 38.

    During his signing, Paul wrote out a warning, saying that he is coming for The Miz who later responded on social media.

    It\’s also been reported that WWE plans on presenting Paul as a babyface for his inevitable feud with the former WWE World Champion.

    Logan Paul On His In-Ring Debut: ‘I Want To Be Humble, But I’m Good At This’

  • Bayley Could Finally be Coming Back to WWE

    In July 2021, Bayley suffered a torn ACL during training, and has been out of action ever since.

    Despite reports that she would be back within nine months, that time window has come and gone without any sign of her return.

    Now though, Bayley may be back in the ring, and her return could be sooner than you\’d think.

    Bayley\’s Return

    According to Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Bayley is expected to be back on TV \”somewhat soon.\”

    Meltzer did not specify when that will be, or what plans WWE has for the former Women\’s Champion at this time.

    Bayley has also teased returning to the ring as soon as tomorrow night\’s Money in the Bank Premium Live Event, recently sharing an image of herself hugging the Women\’s MITB briefcase she won in 2019.

    Bayley and the fans

    Bayley\’s injury came at an especially bad time for the \”Role Model\” who got hurt mere days before the return of live fans in July 2021.

    Bayley was reportedly injured during a training seminar that WWE had mandated to ensure the Superstars were at their very best prior to the return of fans.

    Given that Bayley did not compete at WrestleMania 37 (though did have an on-stage segment with the Bella Twins) it has been over two years since she last wrestled in front of a crowd.

    Bayley\’s last match in front of the fans was on the March 6, 2020 SmackDown, where she teamed with Sasha Banks to defeat Lacey Evans and Naomi.

    Three Potential WWE Money in the Bank 2022 Returns