SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

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

    WWE has undergone arguably its biggest shift in power in decades today with the announcement of Stephanie McMahon as Interim CEO.

    McMahon, who announced last month that she would be taking a break from WWE duties, was appointed following the announced investigation into her father Vince McMahon.

    McMahon is alleged to have arranged a $3 million hush-money payment to a paralegal it is claimed he had an affair with.

    The statement from WWE Corporate is as follows:

    STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– WWE and its Board of Directors jointly released the following statement today:

    Independent directors continue review of alleged executive misconduct

    Stephanie McMahon named interim CEO and interim Chairwoman

    Stamford, Conn. – WWE (NYSE: WWE) and the Board of Directors today announced that a Special Committee of the Board is conducting an investigation into alleged misconduct by its Chairman and CEO Vincent McMahon and John Laurinaitis, head of talent relations, and that, effective immediately, McMahon has voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board until the conclusion of the investigation. McMahon will retain his role and responsibilities related to WWE’s creative content during this period and remains committed to cooperating with the review underway.

    The Special Committee has appointed Stephanie McMahon to serve as interim CEO and interim Chairwoman.

    “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are,” said Mr. McMahon.

    “I love this company and am committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company; it is extremely important to me that we have a safe and collaborative workplace. I have committed to doing everything in my power to help the Special Committee complete its work, including marshaling the cooperation of the entire company to assist in the completion of the investigation and to implement its findings,” said Ms. McMahon.

    WWE and its Board of Directors take all allegations of misconduct very seriously. The Independent Directors of the Board engaged independent legal counsel to assist them with an independent review. In addition, the Special Committee and WWE will work with an independent third-party to conduct a comprehensive review of the company’s compliance program, HR function and overall culture.

    The Company and the Board do not expect to have further comment until the investigation is concluded

  • Cody Rhodes Still has the Double or Nothing Triple H Throne

    Cody Rhodes has been one of WWE\’s most prominently featured Superstars since returning to the company at WrestleMania 38.

    Rhodes has three Premium Live Event victories over Seth Rollins and despite his recent torn pectoral injury, is expected to be in the main event scene for a long time to come.

    Cody\’s return this past April came after three years with All Elite Wrestling, and \”The American Nightmare\” has one interesting souvenir from his time working for Tony Khan.

    The Throne

    On Twitter, Cody shared an image of the infamous throne from AEW Double or Nothing 2019, the promotion\’s first Pay Per View.

    For his entrance, Rhodes destroyed a throne that bore a striking resemblance to one used by Triple H.

    Destroying it with a sledgehammer (another symbol of \”The Game\”) the message was clearly a shot at WWE and their COO.

    The image Rhodes shared also included Rhodes\’ daughter Liberty Iris Runnels, who turns one year old tomorrow.

    Anti-WWE

    Cody Rhodes may be considered by many as the face of WWE these days, but it wasn\’t too long ago that \”The American Nightmare\” was opposed to Vince McMahon\’s company.

    In an interview this past April, Cody said he takes some of the blame for the tribalism between WWE and AEW fans (via Cageside Seats.)

    \”Before making this WWE return, I’m taking little fun potshots and talking smack which is what wrestlers do. I think sometimes the fans that attach themselves to those statements forget that we are in the realm of entertainment, but I added to the tribalism myself.\”

    Fantasy Booking Cody Rhodes’ Road to the WWE Championship

  • Update on Jeff Hardy\’s Arrest Changing AEW\’s Plans

    AEW has been left reeling from Jeff Hardy\’s recent arrest, as the popular wrestler has been charged with three felonies, including driving under the influence.

    Prior to his arrest, Jeff and Matt were scheduled to face AEW World Tag Team Champions Jurrasic Express and the Young Bucks in a triple-threat Tag Team Title Ladder match.

    The match went ahead without the Hardys, and while the Bucks won, becoming the first two-time AEW World Tag Team Champions, the company had much different plans at first.

    The Plan

    According to Bryan Alverez, the original plan for the match was for Matt and Jeff to win the AEW World Tag Team Titles, which would have marked their first reign in the company.

    However, those plans changed following Jeff\’s performance at May\’s Double or Nothing Pay Per View, as it was deemed that the former WWE World Champion looked too bad in the ring.

    There were at one point, plans for the Hardys to be attacked before the match began, but neither Jeff nor his older brother was used at all for the match.

    Jeff\’s arrest as expected played a massive role in the decision to change plans, and it\’s reported that his openly telling the officers that he was going to undergo a brain scan was also an issue.

    What\’s next for Jeff?

    Jeff Hardy has been suspended from AEW without pay, according to a statement given by Tony Khan over Twitter.

    This marks Hardy\’s third DUI arrest within a decade which could lead to a hefty jail sentence for \”The Charismatic Enigma.\”

    In the state of Florida, where Hardy was arrested, a third DUI in under ten years can lead to a maximum five-year prison sentence.

    Jeff could also face up to $5,000 in fines, and a minimum 10-year driver’s license revocation.

    Ex-WWE Star Questions Why Matt Hardy Allowed Jeff Hardy to Drive

  • Von Erich Family Not Involved In Upcoming Zac Efron-led Biopic (Exclusive)

    The Von Erich family is one of the most iconic lineages in professional wrestling, with its origins dating back to 1953.

    The Von Erichs have seen both highs and lows throughout their lives, so it\’s only fitting that a biopic about the legendary family is set to be made.

    \’The Iron Claw,\’ named after Fritz Von Erich\’s iconic finishing move, will see Zac Efron (Firestarter, The Greatest Showman) involved, but he\’ll be working without the family.

    No Involvement

    SEScoops has learned that the surviving members of the legendary Von Erich family are not involved with the production of The Iron Claw.

    Kevin Von Erich is the last surviving son of Fritz Von Erich. His sons, Marshall and Ross Von Erich, currently wrestle as a tag team for Major League Wrestling (MLW).

    Even without the Von Erich\’s involvement, the film will go ahead, produced and financed by A24 (Euphoria, Ramy.)

    Sean Durkin (The Nest) is on board to direct.

    A synopsis for the film is as follows:

    \”Based on the true story of the Von Erichs, the film follows the rise and fall of the Von Erich family, a dynasty of wrestlers who made a huge impact on the sport from the 1960s to the present day.\”

    Synopsis for The Iron Claw

    The Von Erich Family tragedy

    The Von Erich name began in wrestling when Fritz Von Erich entered the industry in the early 50s.

    Fritz would have six children, almost all of whom would meet tragic ends.

    Jack Adkinson Jr. died aged 6 after being shocked unconscious and drowning in a puddle, and David Von Erich died in 1984, which many believe was due to an overdose.

    Kerry Von Erich, who would have a reign as WWF Intercontinental Champion, died via suicide in 1993, and his brother Mike would also end his own life four years later.

    After the death of Mike, Chris Von Erich took his own life in 1991, leaving Kevin Von Erich as the only surviving son of Fritz.

    The third generation of Von Erichs includes Lacey Von Erich, who wrestled for TNA Wrestling and retired in 2010, and Ross and Marshall Von Erich, who compete to this day for MLW.

  • Randy Orton Expected to Miss the Remainder of 2022

    WWE\’s week of bad news just got even worse.

    Several of the company\’s top Superstars are currently off television for a variety of reasons. Roman Reigns is appearing less frequently. Brock Lesnar has been absent since WrestleMania 38. Cody Rhodes just had pectoral surgery. Sasha Banks is reportedly gone from the company and now it appears Randy Orton won\’t be seen any time soon, either.

    Randy Orton Injury Update

    Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select was the first to report that WWE fears Orton will be out of action for the rest of the year, a huge blow to the company.

    Orton last competed on the May 20th edition of SmackDown, teaming with Riddle in a losing effort to The Usos in the tag title Unification match.

    On the following Raw, Riddle revealed that Orton has been working through serious injuries and could \”barely walk\” prior to the tag title unification match.

    Unfortunately, Orton\’s physical ailments are legitimate. According to the Fightful report, Orton needed to \”have work done\” in order for him to be able to compete in the tag title unification match. Things have gotten worse since then and there\’s fear he will be forced to undergo back surgery.

    Randy Orton isn\’t factored into creative plans for WWE at the moment, after being slated for a huge role this summer.

    – Fightful Select

    A Change of Plans

    Losing Orton for the rest of the year could not come at a worse time for WWE which is already missing several major players.

    It had been reported that Orton was the planned opponent for Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at Summerslam, but that match is seemingly off now.

    With Reigns not competing at Money in the Bank, WWE will want to have a match featuring the \”Tribal Chief\” at their biggest party of the Summer.

    Though Drew McIntyre remains active on the roster, he has already called out Reigns for a match at September\’s Clash at the Castle event.

    WWE Provides Serious Health Update On Randy Orton

  • Joey Janela is Suspicious of AEW Featuring Sonny Kiss on Dynamite

    AEW star Sonny Kiss was featured on last night\’s AEW Dynamite, but it wasn\’t in a match.

    Instead, the 28-year-old wrestler was part of a commercial celebrating Pride month, but the timing of this has been criticized by one ex-AEW talent.

    Janela\’s response

    After the commercial aired, ex-AEW talent Joey Janela pointed out how Kiss was featured, but she hasn\’t been used in a match on TV in years.

    Sonny Kiss\’ last match on AEW Dynamite was back on the October 21, 2020 edition of Dynamite, where she lost to Kenny Omega.

    Janela said that AEW should \”cut the bullsh*t,\” insinuating that the only reason the company featured Kiss was due to Pride month.

    You can check out Janela\’s tweet below.

    AEW and LGBTQ+

    \"\"/
    Anthony Bowens with his partner Michael, in a 2019 video where the AEW wrestler announced he solely identifies as gay.

    Sonny Kiss is proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community but she isn\’t the only star on AEW\’s roster who is part of this group.

    Anthony Bowens previously identified as bisexual, but revealed that he solely identifies as gay in a 2019 video.

    Despite a recent injury, Bowens has appeared regularly on AEW programming as part of The Acclaimed.

    Nyla Rose is a transgender woman and was the first transgender World champion in a major American promotion after capturing the Women\’s World Championship in February 2020.

    Diamante is openly gay and is in a relationship with Impact Wrestling star and former Knockouts Tag Team Champion Kiera Hogan.

    • Kiss uses both he/him and she/her pronouns. For consistency and given that Kiss identifies as transfeminine, the author has used she/her pronouns throughout this article.
    Sonny Kiss Opens Up About Lack Of TV Time In AEW

  • Thunder Rosa & Marina Shafir Make Amends After Sabotage Claims

    AEW Women\’s World Champion Thunder Rosa and Marina Shafir aren\’t going to let recent claims cause problems between them.

    Recently, the pair made news after there were accusations of Rosa sabotaging a match between them.

    The reigning AEW Women\’s World Champion responded to the claims when speaking to Ariel Helwani, and said that people will always talk, but she will move forward.

    On Twitter, Rosa shared a couple of photos of herself and Shafir breaking bread, a sign that they have made amends.

    The Accusations

    On last week\’s AEW Dynamite, Rosa defended her title against Shafir in a match that saw the champion retain.

    During the match though, several spots didn\’t go as planned, and at one point, Shafir struggled to lift the Women\’s World Champion.

    Online, some accused Rosa of \’sandbagging\’ making her body go limp and as difficult to maneuver, in an attempt to make Shafir look bad.

    A fan who tweeted about the match, claiming that Rosa had sabotaged the match had their tweet liked by both Shafir and former Women\’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker.

    The Past

    This is the latest accusation against Rosa, after ex-AEW star Ivelisse had a match with her in 2020 in which both women were not on the same page.

    After departing the company, Ivelisse claimed that Rosa had sabotaged the match and said the bout had been a factor in her departure.

    Thunder Rosa’s Reported Next Challenger Won’t be from AEW

  • Latest on Vince McMahon\’s Status for this Friday\’s SmackDown

    Vince McMahon is once again in the news, and not for the reasons the Chairman of WWE is hoping for.

    This week, it\’s been reported that McMahon is under investigation by WWE\’s board over an alleged $3 million payment to a paralegal.

    The payout was allegedly made as \’hush money\’ over an affair between the two following the paralegal\’s hiring in 2019.

    McMahon is said to be cooperating fully with the investigation and is working as if nothing has changed.

    McMahon at SmackDown

    Given the accusations against McMahon, many have questioned whether he would be at this Friday\’s SmackDown on FOX.

    According to a source who spoke to PW Insider, McMahon will be at this Friday\’s show and claimed that things will be business as usual.

    Staff have also been informed that McMahon will be at the show and that nothing has changed about his role in production.

    As for John Laurinaitis, whose name also came up during the allegations, his role is said to be \”unchanged\” as of this time.

    The allegations

    McMahon is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with the paralegal who was hired in 2019.

    It\’s claimed that the woman was paid $100,000 as part of her WWE contract, which was increased to $200,000 after their relationship began.

    After leaving the company earlier this year, it is reported that WWE organized a $3 million payout for her silence, with the first $1 million paid up front.

    The remaining $2 million was set to be paid in installments over five years.

    Vince McMahon Under Investigation for Secret $3 Million Hush Pact

  • Mike Tyson Already Pulled from the Roast of Ric Flair

    Next month, Ric Flair will end his wrestling career for good at the upcoming Starrcast V event.

    On July 31, Flair will compete in his last ever match, but that\’s just one part of the festivities for the \”Dirtiest Player in the Game.\”

    Two days before he hangs up his boots and robe for good, Flair will be the subject of a comedy roast featuring several legends of wrestling and comedians.

    With decades in the industry, there\’s a lot of material, but one major name reportedly won\’t be appearing.

    Tyson is out

    Earlier this week it was reported that boxing legend Mike Tyson would be at the roast of the 16-time World Champion.

    Tyson, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012, is a known wrestling fan, and has appeared for All Elite Wrestling in recent years.

    However, it now looks like \”Iron Mike\” won\’t be appearing after all.

    TMZ is reporting that Tyson’s representatives confirmed that he will be missing the Roast of Ric Flair.

    \”Due to unforseen circumstances, Mike will not be participating in the roast.\”

    Mike Tyson\’s representative, speaking to TMZ.

    The end of Ric Flair\’s career

    Even without Mike Tyson, The Roast of Ric Flair will be an epic celebration of the legendary wrestler.

    Details are still scarce about Ric\’s last match, as it had initially been reported that he\’d be facing his long-time rival Ricky \’The Dragon\’ Steamboat.

    Steamboat has since declined the match, and the current belief is that Flair will team with FTR to face the Rock \’n Roll Express and a mystery partner.

    The match hasn\’t been confirmed by Starrcast themselves at this time.

  • Thunder Rosa Responds to Claims of Sabotaging AEW Women\’s World Title Match

    AEW Women\’s World Champion Thunder Rosa isn\’t too worried about claims that she deliberately sabotaged a recent title match on AEW Dynamite.

    During last week\’s show, Rosa defended her title against Marina Shafir in a match that left fans scratching their heads.

    One fan thought the clunky spots in the match were a perfect example of a wrestler \’sandbagging:\’ deliberately making it difficult to work in the ring.

    Both Shafir and former Women\’s World Champion Dr. Britt Baker liked the tweet from the person that was accusing Rosa of sandbagging.

    Thunder Rosa\’s response

    Sitting down with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Rosa was asked about the accusations against her.

    The AEW Women\’s World Champion said that she has nothing but respect for her opponents, and while she\’ll try harder next time, chalked this experience up to people talking (via WrestlingNews.)

    \”I have nothing but respect for my opponents. Anyone who dares to stand in the ring with me, I have nothing but respect to my opponents and send them nothing but blessings. Moving on forward I will continue to work harder to have the best matches I can bring and to bring the most opportunities to all of the women that are behind me. When they step into the ring with me they’re like ‘cool.’ People are going to talk and that’s fine, I’m not worried about that. I will continue to move forward and I will continue to show with my body of work what I’m all about. That’s all I have to say.”

    \”People are going to talk and that’s fine, I’m not worried about that. I will continue to move forward.\”

    Thunder Rosa on accusations of sabotaging her match with Marina Shafir.

    Past problems

    Rosa may not be too worried about people talking about this match, but it\’s not the first time those people have spoken about her.

    In September 2020, Ivelisse had a match with Rosa in which the two failed to get on the same page.

    Ivelisse has even claimed that the uncomfortable Rosa match hastened her departure from AEW, after she was cut in April 2021.

  • Ex-WWE Star Questions Why Matt Hardy Allowed Jeff Hardy to Drive

    Jeff Hardy is once again in trouble with the law, after being arrested last weekend and driving under the influence.

    After being tested by police, who at one point had to pull guns on the AEW star, Hardy\’s blood-alcohol level was over triple the legal driving limit at which point he was arrested.

    A lot has been said about Jeff and who should share responsibility for his actions, but one former WWE Superstar has taken aim at Matt Hardy.

    Matt Hardy and Bill DeMott

    It\’s been reported that Matt Hardy was with Jeff hours before his arrest, and after AEW President Tony Khan issued a statement about Jeff\’s arrest, one fan asked whether action will be taken against Matt.

    “What about @MATTHARDYBRAND who was getting drunk with him and let him drive knowing he was drunk and doesn\’t have a license full accountability @TonyKhan right @BillDeMott”

    DeMott responded by saying \”it’s a good question.\”

    Matt responded, unhappy about DeMott\’s insinuation that he bears responsibility for his younger brother\’s arrest.

    “Understand your passion on this & agree that DD is unacceptable. I expect speculation from fans, but not you. I haven’t touched a drug in over a decade, haven’t drank since I’ve been a Dad. Saw Jeff last on Sun night & flew early Mon w/@RebyHardy. I can’t be with Jeff every min.”

    DeMott responded by saying he has nothing but respect for the former ECW Champion.

    “No disrespect or anything toward you Matt. Utmost respect, we are all accountable for ourselves.”

    DeMott\’s tragedy

    Jeff and Matt Hardy aren\’t the only people that Bill DeMott has been especially critical of regarding driving under the influence.

    Earlier this year, DeMott called on WWE to remove Tammy \’Sunny\’ Sytch for the Hall of Fame following her own arrest and being charged with DUI manslaughter.

    Sytch is accused of killing 75-year-old Julian Lasseter via her drink-driving, and DeMott knows what it\’s like to lose a loved one.

    In 2015, DeMott\’s daughter Keri Anne DeMott was killed by a drunk driver. She was 20 at the time.

    In response, DeMott founded the Keri Anne DeMott Foundation, which looks to reduce the risk of drunk drivers on the road.

  • WWE Had Plans For Troy Donovan Before Sudden Release

    Troy Donovan was released from WWE earlier this month, but this wasn\’t a decision that been in the works.

    Donovan had served as \’Two Dimes,\’ one of Tony D\’Angelo\’s \’family\’ on WWE NXT 2.0, but was cut due to what\’s being described as a \”policy issue.\”

    Plans for Donovan

    On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said that WWE had taped several weeks of segments for D\’Angelo\’s family in advance and that these segments included Donovan (via Sporto.)

    “So they taped the stuff with Tony D’Angelo’s family, so they may have to re-edit this thing because Two Dimes was already taped for two more weeks. Although, I guess they don’t have to. They could probably still show him for those two weeks, it’s not the end of the world. ”

    Meltzer didn\’t specify whether the segments will be scrapped entirely, whether they will be edited to remove Donovan or if they will need to be refilmed.

    While this isn\’t \”the end of the world\” as Meltzer has made clear, it does reveal that WWE had no plans on releasing Donovan up until very recently.

    Neither WWE nor Donovan have said what the policy issue was that led to his abrupt release.

    Donovan\’s Statement

    We may never learn what led to Troy Donovan\’s release, but the former NXT 2.0 Superstar has addressed his departure on social media.

    While he didn\’t specify what led to his departure, Donovan did say that mistakes were made and lessons learned during his brief tenure with the company.

    Donovan also thanked fans for their support, calling his release a \”bump in the road.\”

  • Reby Hardy Fires Back at Claims Of Enabling Jeff Hardy

    Jeff Hardy was arrested last weekend and charged with three felonies, including driving under the influence, and that\’s Jeff\’s responsibility alone.

    Since Hardy\’s arrest, his third DUI within ten years, there\’s been a discussion about who bears responsibility for his actions and how this arrest could have been prevented.

    Many have said that Jeff\’s brother Matt and wife Reby should have worked to stop Jeff from drinking, but the latter has hit back at these claims.

    Reby Fires Back

    On TikTok, Reby argued that she and Matt have done more than enough to try and limit Jeff\’s proximity to alcohol in a scathing response to critics (via eWrestlingNews.)

    “Oh, so you were there when I booked the event, right? And when I told the promoters to make sure there was no alcohol there and he was not served alcohol? You were there? And you were there when I was trying to make sure all night through the handlers that that was not happening? You were there when we walked into his hotel room that night, right? You were there. You know, because you were there? Oh, you weren’t there.\”

    \”Short of having him sleep in between me and Matt, there’s really not much more I could have personally done.\”

    Reby Hardy

    Hardy added that she will not be speaking about Jeff Hardy\’s situation any further and that her brother-in-law is a fully-grown adult and responsible for his own actions, not her or Matt.

    What\’s next for Jeff?

    In a statement issued on Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that Jeff has been suspended from the company without pay.

    Jeff will have to complete courses and prove his sobriety before Khan allows him to return to the ring.

    Outside of wrestling, Jeff is facing some serious consequences for his actions, as this marks his third DUI arrest within ten years.

    If convicted, Jeff could face a maximum five years in prison.

  • Matt Hardy Breaks Silence On Jeff Hardy\’s DUI Arrest

    Jeff Hardy and those closest to him have been left reeling after the \”Charismatic Enigma\’s\” latest arrest.

    Last weekend, Hardy was pulled over and arrested in Volusia County, Florida, and faces three charges, including driving under the influence.

    When a breath test was administered, Jeff blew an 0.294 on his first and 0.291 on his second, both well over the legal limit to drive a vehicle 0.08.

    Jeff was said to be unsteady on his feet and at one point, officers had to pull their firearms on Hardy to get him to comply.

    There\’s been plenty of talk since Jeff\’s most recent arrest, and now someone extremely close to the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion has weighed in.

    Matt\’s Statement

    Taking to Twitter, Jeff\’s older brother Matt said it was \”disheartening\” to hear about his brother\’s most recent arrest.

    Matt added that he will continue doing what he can to support Jeff and that being healthy and well is the most important thing for them and their families at this time.

    Jeff\’s trouble with the Law

    This situation is unfortunately not Jeff Hardy\’s first run-in with the law.

    In 2009, shortly after his departure from WWE, Hardy was arrested on charges of trafficking in controlled prescription pills and pled guilty the following year.

    In September 2011, Hardy was sentenced to ten days in jail, 30 months of probation, and a fine of $100,000.

    Years later, after returning to WWE, Hardy was arrested in July 2019 for public intoxication and arrested again three months later for driving under the influence.

  • Lucha Libre Ice Cream & Churros Opens in Winston-Salem, NC

    Noth Carolina wrestling fans with a sweet tooth are in for a treat thanks to a new store now open in Winston-Salem.

    Lucha Libre Ice Cream & Churros is the place to be and the creation of Martin Ortega, who works with his sister Carolina and his three sons, Christopher, Anthony, and Jhoan.

    The store, which is the company\’s second location, opened this past Sunday at 2021 Griffith Road, not far from Hanes Mall Boulevard and is based on Ortega\’s Mexican culture.

    Lucha Libre boasts 20 flavors of ice cream, starting at $6.49 for a small cup and $6.99 for a large.

    In addition to ice cream and churros, Lucha Libre also sells paletas, milkshakes, fruit treats, coffee drinks, and mangonadas (a frozen mango dessert).

    \”My brother, going back to his teen years, always loved lucha libre, and he used to work as a promoter for lucha libre back in Mexico.\”

    Carolina Ortega, sister of Lucha Libre Ice Cream and Churros owner Martin Ortega (via JournalNow)

    One top seller at Lucha Libre is the \’Nutella the Giant\’ SmackDown: a Nutella milkshake with churros stuck in it named after WWE Hall of Famer Andre the Giant.

    Ortega, a native of Loma Bonita in Oaxaca, Mexico, previously ran a Hispanic grocery store and restaurant called Barrio Latino.

  • Reverse Battle Royal Returns Sunday at Impact Slammiversary

    Impact Wrestling is bringing back one of his infamous match types at this Sunday\’s Slammiversary event.

    On Twitter, the company announced that the Reverse Battle Royal will be back and part of the Countdown to Slammiversary streaming event this Sunday at 7:30 pm ET.

    The match will stream on Impact Plus and YouTube, and will also feature a Digital Media Championship match between Rich Swann and Brian Myers.

    The Reverse Battle Royal

    While a traditional Battle Royal sees wrestlers toss one another out of the ring to eliminate their opponents, the Reverse Battle Royal isn\’t quite so simple.

    Instead, the match starts with all competitors outside of the ring, fighting to enter the ring to qualify for the second half of the match.

    Once half the participants are in the ring, the second part of the match starts, which plays out like a standard Battle Royal until there\’s one person left in the ring.

    The match debuted in Impact when Abyss outlasted everyone, in a match poorly received by fans and critics.

    In the 2006 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards, that year\’s Reverse Battle Royal earned the dubious honor of \’Worst Match of the Year.\’

    A year later, Eric Young won the match as seen below.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJyG0v9jXdU

    Slammiversary 2022

    The return of the Reverse Battle Royal is just one part of a stacked card for this Sunday\’s Pay Per View.

    In the main event, Impact World Champion Josh Alexander will defend against two-time former champion Eric Young.

    In his first match for Impact since suffering a broken ankle in September 2021, Sami Callihan will face Moose in a Monsters Ball match.

    Knockouts World Champion Tasha Steelz will put her title on the line against Chelsea Green, Mia Yim, Jordynne Grace, and Deonna Purrazzo in the first Queen of the Mountain match.

  • Roman Reigns Would Dominate the UFC \”in a Heartbeat\”

    This November will mark a decade since Roman Reigns debuted on WWE\’s main roster, and the \”Head of the Table\” is no stranger to championship gold.

    A former United States, Intercontinental, and Tag Team Champion, he is also the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, now in his 653rd day of this reign.

    Whether fans cheer him or boo him, Roman Reigns has proven to be a success in WWE and he could take his success to another industry.

    Reigns in the UFC?

    Speaking with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Roman Reigns\’ special counsel Paul Heyman praised the \”Tribal Chief,\” saying that he would fit right in in the UFC.

    \”He has the agility and aptitude of a Division I athlete, and don’t ever lose sight that Roman Reigns could be the UFC heavyweight champion in a heartbeat.\”

    Roman Reigns

    Heyman added that the mystique around Reigns as \”The Tribal Chief\” betrays what an extremely \”tough man and athlete\” he is.

    Interestingly enough, Reigns\’ next challenger for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship knows all about competing inside the Octagon.

    Reigns Vs. Riddle

    While Reigns could hold the UFC Heavyweight Championship, at least according to Heyman, the Tribal Chief\’s focus will be on this Friday\’s SmackDown.

    On the show, Reigns will defend his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship against Riddle, a match that was originally scheduled for Money in the Bank 2022.

    On Raw, it was announced that if Riddle loses, he will no longer be able to challenge for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship as long as Reigns is champion.

  • Who was WWE\’s Original Paul Heyman Guy Before Brock Lesnar?

    Brock Lesnar is perhaps the most successful WWE Superstar to be deemed a \’Paul Heyman Guy,\’ having won several World Championships alongside his advocate.

    In March 2002, Heyman debuted Lesnar on WWE TV and it would be mere months later that the \”Next Big Thing\” captured the WWE Undisputed Championship.

    While the two would split at that year\’s Survivor Series, they would reunite upon Brock\’s return to the company in 2012.

    Lesnar\’s career will always be tied to Heyman, who now serves as the special counsel to Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, but there was someone else considered for Heyman.

    The Other Paul Heyman Guy

    Speaking to Inside The Ropes, Heyman said that while he eventually got to work with Lesnar, WWE at first wanted him to be the manager of Chris Benoit (via Sportskeeda)

    \”I was off-air, I was behind the scenes. I was supposed to come back on the air, in 2002, at WrestleMania, with Chris Benoit.\”

    Paul Heyman.

    Heyman had last appeared on WWE TV on the Raw after Survivor Series 2001, where the WWF defeated the Alliance in a Winner Takes All match.

    While McMahon had seemingly forgiven Heyman, this was a ruse, as the WWE Chairman fired Heyman and replaced him on commentary with the returning Jerry \’The King\’ Lawler.

    Benoit had missed the entire Invasion storyline after a serious neck injury that occurred during a TLC match on the May 24, 2001, SmackDown.

  • Ex-WWE Superstar Wishes She Got her Day in Wrestler\’s Court

    Former WWE Superstar Shelley Martinez regrets never getting the chance to go one-on-one with The Undertaker, albeit in a courtroom setting.

    Working with WWE from 2006 to 2007 and while a trained wrestler, worked primarily as the valet of Kevin Thorn.

    Shelley\’s case

    Speaking with Wrestling Shoot Interviews, Martinez spoke about having issues with Batista, though the pair eventually patched things up.

    Martinez reportedly had heat backstage for confronting several top-tier Superstars at the time, but never got the chance to defend herself in Wrestler\’s Court (via Wrestling Inc.)

    “I used to think for a long time that he [Batista] was responsible for my firing, but then I remembered, ‘Dude, I told off Shawn Michaels, dude, I told off Randy Orton.’ Like, that was the last straw, and my reasoning behind telling all three of those guys off was all for me sticking up for myself, so I figured, ‘That’s just not the place for me if I get punished for sticking up for myself.\’”

    \”How come if people had all these problems with me, I wasn’t allowed to go to Wrestler’s Court? I don’t get it and that still bothers me to this day.\”

    Shelley Martinez.

    Wrestler\’s Court

    A staple of wrestling, Wrestler\’s Court was reportedly the invention of Dutch Mantell (WWE\’s Zeb Colter) and would see wrestlers settle disputes among themselves.

    In WWE, cases would be presided over by The Undertaker acting as judge, with John \’Bradshaw\’ Layfield serving as the prosecutor.

    The Court has been fizzled out of WWE in recent years, and the process has faced criticism for the treatment of Superstars.

    In 2006, a young Miz was banned from the locker room due to getting a few crumbs on a veteran Superstar\’s bag, and legendary announcer Howard Finkel was reportedly left in tears after being humiliated in Wrestler\’s Court for \’not selling enough.\’

  • Trish Stratus is Ready to get Back in the Ring

    The WWE Universe may be feeling a new wave of \’Stratusfaction\’ very soon as Hall of Famer Trish Stratus seems eager to get back in the ring.

    Often considered one of the greatest female wrestlers in WWE history, its no wonder why countless fans want to see one more match from the Canadian legend, and their wish may soon be granted.

    Trish Vs. Lynch

    Speaking with Bill Apter, the seven-time WWE Women\’s Champion was asked about a possible return given that she remains in incredible shape.

    Trish explained why she would return, and that she\’d like to face off one-on-one with Becky Lynch.

    \”If someone’s out of line – Becky Lynch – I might… She’s a little out of sorts right now, got a lot on her mind and I think I could take advantage of that.\”

    Trish Stratus on her strategy for a match with Becky Lynch.

    This is the latest escalation between the two wrestlers, who recently went back and forth on social media.

    After tweeting that Lynch is a \”bit off\” at the moment, Lynch responded that she\’s \”off the charts\” and warned Trish not to test her.

    Stratus\’ Other Returns

    While Trish Stratus officially retired in 2006, defeating Lita in her native Canada to win her seventh Women\’s Championship, that didn\’t keep the WWE Hall of Famer away.

    In December 2008, Trish returned as the mystery partner of John Cena, and the pair defeated Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix on Raw.

    Stratus would also have a one-night return in September 2009, and had a handful of matches in 2011, including getting a victory at WrestleMania 27.

    Returning to the ring for the inaugural Women\’s Royal Rumble in 2018, Trish would also wrestle at that year\’s Evolution event.

    Her most recent match came at Summerslam 2019, where she lost to Charlotte Flair.

    Another opponent?

    \"Sasha
    Trish Stratus has said she\’d love to face Sasha Banks if given the opportunity against \”The Boss.\”

    Trish may be ready to throw down with Becky Lynch, but that\’s not the only opponent that Stratus is eyeing up.

    Speaking with ET Canada in March, Stratus said she\’d love to face Sasha Banks under the right circumstances.

    Trish and Banks did collide in the 2018 Women\’s Royal Rumble match but have never faced off one-on-one.

    This match seems unlikely at this time though, given that Banks has been suspended after she and Naomi walked out of Raw last month.

  • Rob Van Dam Finds A Lot of Modern-Day Wrestling \’Offensive\’

    For countless wrestling fans, the action they see on WWE TV these days can\’t compare to what was going on just a few decades earlier.

    In 2008, WWE implemented a PG rating, banning chair shots to the skull, blood, and other staples of the industry, and the consensus among audiences is that the rating has only hurt the wrestling fans see from Vince McMahon\’s promotion.

    Viewerships and attendances are certainly down from the days of the envelope-pushing Attitude Era, and it\’s not just the fans who think things have changed for the worse.

    What offends Rob Van Dam?

    Speaking on the Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Rob Van Dam spoke about how wrestling has changed, not just in WWE but throughout the entire industry.

    RVD explained how things are entirely different today compared to when he was competing full-time (via WrestlingInc.)

    I’m still offended by a lot of the stuff that I see nowadays… I hate it when people say, ‘Oh, I wasn’t brought up that way,’ no one was brought up that way, we have to adapt. Your perception changes when you’re an adult.”

    Rob Van Dam.

    Van Dam added that when he was breaking into wrestling, the number one rule was to protect the business, but that\’s changed in recent years.

    \”Somewhere way down the road, it became, ‘number one rule: safety first.’ Like, what?”

    Rob Van Dam

    The future of wrestling

    While AEW has proven to be a hit with fans, offering an alternative to WWE and a more unsanitized product compared to Vince McMahon, RVD isn\’t hopeful for the future of the industry.

    \”What\’s it gonna be, eventually? Unless it just goes straight up to a broadway play.\”

    Rob Van Dam.

    RVD\’s most recent match came at Ireland\’s Over the Top ScrapperMania VI event this past March, where he defeated Scotty Davis.

  • Eddie Kingston\’s Mom Knows Best When it Comes to Her Son\’s Career

    Eddie Kingston has been with AEW for two years now, after years of toiling in several promotions.

    Before signing with Tony Khan, Kingston honed his craft in CHIKARA, CZW, and Ring of Honor to name just a few.

    After becoming a mainstay on the independent scene, Kingston signed with AEW, but nearly made what he now considers a terrible mistake, and would have made that choice if not for a relative.

    Mother knows Best

    Kingston has proven to be a popular act in AEW, but that may not have happened if not for his mother\’s intervention.

    Speaking this week to Weekend Joe, Kingston said that after his AEW debut match against Cody Rhodes, both AEW and WWE showed interest in signing him.

    The \”Mad King\” admitted that he was considering joining WWE, a company he said had never shown any interest in him in the past, but it was his mom who swayed him to AEW (via Wrestling Inc.)

    \”I had a chance to pick and choose … My mom was just like, ‘Look, you ain’t going to be happy at WWE.’ That was her feeling

    Eddie Kingston.

    Kingston said his mother\’s advice meant a lot, given that she\’s an \”outsider\” and despite not knowing either company too well, knew her son would be better suited in AEW.

    Taking his mother\’s advice, Kingston would commit to AEW, where he\’s faced some of the company\’s top stars including Rhodes, Chris Jericho and AEW World Champion CM Punk.

  • Naomi is Spreading Positive Vibes During WWE Suspension

    WWE Superstar Naomi is spreading some positive vibes on Twitter, in her first tweet since being suspended by the company.

    During the May 16 2022 Raw, Naomi and Sasha Banks, then the WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions, walked out of the show.

    The pair did not agree with the plans for them to enter feuds for the Raw and SmackDown Women\’s Championships, believing it made their Tag Titles seem unimportant.

    Naomi\’s Five Tips

    On Twitter, \”The Glow\” shared an inspirational video detailing five \”things you need to hear today.\”

    • 1. Important people come and go. That’s ok.
    • 2. You can look at it as rejection or you can look at it as redirection.
    • 3. You define what fun is. Don’t allow someone to make you feel like what you like is stupid.
    • 4. Sometimes, you’re gonna have to let other people down to make yourself happy.
    • 5. Diet isn’t just what you eat. Your diet is what you watch, listen to and allow around you.

    In the comments, fans responded by referencing Naomi\’s walkout, with many believing the video was related to her and Banks\’ departure last month.

    Interesting, WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin tweeted that number 4 was especially important.

    Is Naomi leaving WWE?

    Naomi has been serving her suspension since May 20, but some believe that she may not be returning to TV at all.

    It\’s been reported that Naomi\’s contract, like Banks\’, expires soon, and there\’s been no word yet on whether WWE has frozen her deal due to the walkout.

    WWE has taken steps to distance themselves from both former champions, with Banks and Naomi having their merchandise pulled from WWEShop.com.

    The Superstars are reportedly not getting paid during their suspension either.

  • Former WWE Divas Champion Could be Joining AEW Very Soon

    All Elite Wrestling is home to several former WWE Superstars, with both the men\’s and women\’s divisions hosting several talents who once worked for Vince McMahon.

    While AEW has faced criticism for hiring a lot of former WWE Superstars, one particularly interesting name could soon be signing with Tony Khan.

    Paige to AEW

    This week, former WWE Divas Champion Paige announced that she will be leaving WWE, with July 7 marking her last date with the promotion.

    The announcement has shocked fans who believed WWE would always have a role for Paige, especially as it\’s been four years since her retirement due to neck injuries.

    During her first Twitch live stream after the announcement, Paige was asked about the possibility of joining AEW and is open to the idea (via eWrestlingNews.)

    \”Sure [I\’d Join AEW,] if the money is right.\”

    Paige.

    With a net worth of over $1 billion, Tony Khan certainly has enough to afford the inaugural NXT Women\’s Champion.

    Khan himself has not publicly commented on whether he\’s interested in bringing Paige to the company.

    With no non-compete clause to her name, Paige will be able to work wherever she chooses after her contract expires on July 7.

    Paige\’s Huge Revelation

    Paige may soon be appearing on Dynamite or Rampage, but the decision to leave WWE wasn\’t her own.

    In that same Twitch Stream, the British Superstar said that it was WWE\’s decision not to renew her contract, but that there are no hard feelings.

    In recent years, Paige had remained hopeful that WWE would one day clear her to wrestle again but that never came.

  • WWE\’s Omos Is Ready for a 100,000-seat Show in Africa

    WWE is unquestionably the biggest wrestling promotion around and the company\’s influence can be felt all around the world.

    While much of the company\’s work takes place in the United States, WWE will travel to Cardiff, Wales this September for their Clash at the Castle event.

    Cardiff\’s Principality Stadium can hold up to 74,500 fans, but one Raw Superstar is ready for an even bigger event in the continent of Africa.

    Omos\’ is Confident

    Speaking on BT Sport WWE, Raw Superstar Omos discussed Clash at the Castle, which is happening after Drew McIntyre promised a Premium Live Event in the UK.

    When asked if a WWE PLE could ever happen in the near future on African soil, Omos was positive that an event will come soon enough.

    \”Without a shadow of a doubt, we can definitely have a 100,000 or more sold out show in Africa.\”

    Omos to WWE\’s The Bump

    Omos gave the South African capital of Johannesburg as an example of where this hypothetical Premium Live Event.

    While Johannesburg is home to the two largest stadiums in Africa, neither has the capacity to sell out 100,000 seats.

    The FNB Stadium in the Gauteng region of Johannesburg has a capacity of 94,736, while the Ellis Park Stadium, also in Gauteng can hold 62,567 fans.

    Wrestling and Africa

    The African continent has a close relationship with Wrestling, including having its own promotions.

    Perhaps the biggest promotion is the AWA (African Wrestling Alliance) which was founded in 1995 as the African Wrestling Federation.

    WWE has also made several trips to Africa over the years, with two title changes happening during a tour in 2007.

    During a live event in Capetown, Paul London and Brian Kendrick captured the World Tag Team Championships from Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch.

    On the final night of the tour, Cade and Murdoch won the titles back in Johannesburg.