SEScoops

Author: Thomas Lowson

  • Original Plan for this week\’s Steel Cage Match Between Bobby Lashley and Omos

    WWE was going to collapse the ring as part of their original plans for this week\’s Steel Cage match between Bobby Lashley and Omos.

    On Raw, the two competed in a match Lashley won, after being thrown into the wall of the cage which collapsed under his weight.

    According to WrestleVotes on Twitter, the match was supposed to feature a spot where the ring collapsed but this was nixed.

    Will Lashley-Omos III be Inside Hell in a Cell?

    While Lashley got the win this week, his victory was far from clean, and he and Omos are still tied at Premium Live Events.

    Lashley got the win at WrestleMania 38 while Omos defeated \”The All Mighty\” at WrestleMania Backlash in Lashley\’s first televised pinfall loss in seven months.

    While a rubber match seems likely to take place at Hell in a Cell, the question is whether the match will take place inside the Cell itself.

    WWE currently has just one Cell match confirmed for the June 5, Premium Live Event: Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins.

    This week\’s Steel Cage match was Omos\’ first time inside a structure and may have been a test to see how he\’d fair inside Hell in a Cell.

  • \’Road Dogg\’ Jesse James Calls Sasha Banks-Naomi Walk Out a \”Publicity Stunt\”

    WWE Hall of Famer \’Road Dogg\’ Jesse James has said that Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out of this week\’s Raw may have been the plan all along.

    The WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champions left this week\’s Raw due to creative differences and after \”The Boss\” had a meeting with Vince McMahon.

    Appearing on SiriusXM’s Busted Open Radio to give his thoughts on the situation, James explained why this may be all for show.

    \”When I see them publically put it all out there like that, it just makes me feel like it’s a work, you know what I mean? It just makes me feel like, if that really happened, in my mind, they would just change the main event, and probably not even say anything.

    \”I think it is a publicity stunt to try and add some heat to the tag titles. But again, that’s just me, and I’m a cynical worker who’s been around the business my whole life, so I think everything’s a work.”

    \”I think it is a publicity stunt to try and add some heat to the tag titles.\”

    \’Road Dogg\’ Jesse James

    Road Dogg was with WWE until January 2022 when he was released from his role at the Performance Center.

    James was released alongside his brother Scott Armstrong, William Regal, and others.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.

  • Sasha Banks Recalls Being Told She was \”Just a Good Hand\” in NXT

    WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champion Sasha Banks has called being told she was \”just a good hand\” a defining moment in her career.

    Banks joined WWE in 2012 and was assigned to NXT, becoming one of the brand\’s most popular female Superstars before her 2015 call-up to the main roster.

    Appearing on Cold As Balls With Kevin Hart, Banks recalled her first months in NXT and the writer who said WWE didn\’t see her as a headline act.

    \”I wasn\’t really getting used. A writer came up to me and told me that I was just a good hand. \’A good hand.\’\”

    Sasha Banks

    When asked, Banks said she would not disclose the writer\’s identity but said she used it as motivation to be the best.

    \”The Boss\” listed several of her accolades, including her multiple championship reigns and Hart jokingly referred to her as \”Cocky Cathy.\”

    Hart added that Banks\’ accomplishments are impressive and asked if she believes she gets the respect she deserves.

    \”I feel like I definitely get the respect I deserve in WWE. To be a woman and to main event, wake up, that wouldn\’t be possible [before].\”

    Sasha Banks

    Banks is in her third reign as WWE Women\’s Tag Team Champion but handed the titles to John Laurinaitis before walking out of Raw this week.

    Thanks to Fightful for the transcription.

  • William Regal: I Put my Job on the Line for Sasha Banks

    AEW\’s William Regal encouraged WWE to fire him if Sasha Banks didn\’t work out, in order to get \”The Boss\” a shot with the company.

    Prior to his release earlier this year, Regal worked as the on-screen General Manager of NXT and as a talent scout, locating some of WWE\’s brightest stars.

    Speaking to Renee Paquette on The Sessions, Regal recalled his ultimatum to WWE during a discussion about former Superstar Cesaro.

    “I put my job on the line once for Sasha Banks, she was someone who I went with because I knew her – my first thing on the job was hire this lady. I said If she doesn’t work out then you can fire me.”

    William Regal.

    Banks was invited to a WWE tryout in June 2012 and signed a contract in August that same year.

    She has since gone on to have one of the most decorated careers of any woman, becoming a five-time Raw Women\’s Champion, three-time WWE Women\’s Tag Champion, and has had reigns as SmackDown and NXT Women\’s Champion.

    Is Sasha Banks leaving WWE?

    \"Original
    Banks and her tag-team partner Naomi walked out of WWE Raw this week over a creative difference between Banks and Vince McMahon.

    William Regal may have been released from WWE this year, but Sasha Banks may not be far behind.

    On this week\’s Raw, Banks walked out of the show due to creative differences with Vince McMahon, and her tag-team partner Naomi walked out in solidarity.

    In a statement, WWE apologized that they could not deliver the advertised main event, a six-pack challenge that would have included Banks and Naomi.

    There\’s been speculation that the company is ready to cut ties after this week\’s incident.

    However, given Banks\’ celebrity status, both from WWE and for her role as Koska Reeves in \’The Mandalorian,\’ it\’s unlikely WWE will release her and risk someone of significant star power joining AEW.

    Thanks to Wrestling News for the transcription.

  • Sasha Banks Unfollows WWE, Vince McMahon, and Others on Twitter

    Sasha Banks has unfollowed several prominent WWE accounts over the past few days, ahead of her and Naomi’s walk-out during this week’s Raw.

    During the show, Banks and Naomi left the Scope Arena, forcing WWE to change their announced six-pack challenge main event into a singles match between Becky Lynch and Asuka.

    On Twitter, Banks has unfollowed the accounts of WWE, Vince McMahon, Bayley, Becky Lynch, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos, Seth Rollins, and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns.

    Now, “The Boss” is following only six accounts: Naomi, John Cena, Tamina Snuka, her cousin Snoop Dogg, and two fan accounts.

    During Raw, Corey Graves said the pair had acted “unprofessionally” by walking out.

    In a statement, WWE said that the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions placed the titles on the desk of John Laurinaitis before leaving.

    Why did Banks and Naomi leave?

    \"Photos:
    Fans have compared this incident to Banks requesting her WWE release in 2019 after losing the Women\’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 35.

    The duo left Raw after Sasha Banks expressed her frustration with creative and had a meeting with Vince McMahon to discuss changes.

    When McMahon refused to budge, Banks left and Naomi sided with her tag-team partner.

    Fans have compared this to a 2019 incident, where Banks requested her release after losing the Women’s Tag Titles (then held with Bayley) to The IIconics at WrestleMania 35.

  • Tony Khan Takes Aim at Vince McMahon\’s Habit of Ripping Up WWE Scripts

    AEW President Tony Khan has said he doesn\’t understand why a wrestling promoter would rip up a script before a show, in a dig at WWE and Vince McMahon.

    The WWE Chairman is known for making edits to scripts, or even tearing them up completely mere hours before his programming goes on air.

    Speaking with Forbes, Khan said that while he accepts that changes need to be made on the fly, ripping up a script implies that those in charge haven\’t done enough preparation.

    “To be honest, when I hear about somebody going in, and they have a TV show on Monday that they rip up. My first thought is, ‘what were you doing all weekend?’ Because I work my ass off on the weekends,” he claimed. “I have to come in with a plan for Wednesday, and Friday night, I want to make sure Dynamite’s great, and Rampage.

    \”I don’t do everything myself, but I do make the final decision on everything. I put the format together, I put an outline of what the show is going to be for Dynamite and Rampage, and I write it by hand. I don’t understand why you’re going to come in and rip up a show that you have a pretty good idea of what it is. And you should have approved it, where Monday, we know what we’re doing.”

    \”When I hear about somebody going in, and they have a TV show on Monday that they rip up. My first thought is, ‘what were you doing all weekend?’\”

    Tony Khan

    McMahon\’s War on Scripts

    \"WWE
    McMahon has a history of tearing up scripts for WWE programming, often very shortly before the show is meant to go live.

    Vince McMahon employs a large team of writers to produce WWE content each week but the Chairman is seemingly very difficult to impress.

    In March 2020, McMahon tore up the script for Monday Night Raw and was reported to have \”changed everything.\”

    That same year, it was reported that McMahon had ripped up the script for Raw an hour before the show went live.

    An October 2020 script for WWE SmackDown was finished very late in the day as the company could not decide what should make it on the show.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.

  • Eric Bischoff Blasts CM Punk as, \”The Biggest Financial Flop in Wrestling\”

    WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff has continued his war of words with CM Punk, calling him \”the biggest financial flop in wrestling history.\”

    Last week, the two went to war over comments Bischoff has made about AEW, believing that the show caters to too small a market and cannot grow.

    Punk responded by saying fans shouldn\’t listen to \”bad-take carnies\” and to \”let them die in the dark with their ego podcasts.\”

    Bischoff would fire back, using a quote in which Punk said what he, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole have done is bigger than Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall, and asked \”How’s that working out?”

    On the latest episode of his 83 Weeks Podcast, Bischoff continued their feud, saying that Punk\’s claim of being bigger than the Outsiders joining WCW has \”fallen flat on his face.\”

    “I took his quote and posted it and said how’s that working out? Which it isn’t, obviously. In terms of a return on investment, this guy has to be the biggest financial flop in the history of wrestling.”

    Eric Bischoff

    Bischoff said that he would be happy to be proven wrong if someone can show him that Punk is worth the investment in terms of revenue.

    Without this data, Bischoff said all he can judge Punk on is the viewership which hasn\’t sustained from the former WWE Champion\’s debut last year.

    “He came out to 1.17 million people who came out to see his debut Friday night on Rampage, it’s down to around 400-500 thousand on average. Punk’s primer on Dynamite did like 1.29 million people and they came, they saw and they left and now they’re hovering around that 900,000. Which they’ve been doing for, I don’t know, a year, year and a half. When Punk comes out and says he’s a bigger deal than Scott Hall and Kevin Nash coming to WCW, that created a paradigm shift with people watching wrestling, where Punk has created absolutely nothing.”

    CM Punk will challenge \’Hangman\’ Adam Page for the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing 2022.

    Thanks to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.

  • WWE Performance Center Stalker Attempts to Crash Impact Taping

    Armando Montalvo, better known as the WWE Performance Center stalker, tried to invade a recent taping of Impact Wrestling.

    Montalvo traveled to Kissimmee, Florida, where Impact Wrestling recently held their Citrus Bowl taping and live-streamed his actions over Facebook.

    In the video, Montalvo wanders aimlessly around the venue wearing a yellow high-visibility jacket and no shirt.

    When speaking to security, Montalvo asked if he could be booked for a match, and when told that this is not how wrestling works, asked the guard to put him in handcuffs.

    Security informed Montalvo that he had to leave if he did not have a ticket, and the stalker responded by calling this incident his \”redemption.\”

    Montalvo also asked the security guard to buy him a ticket but later decided to leave.

    The entire incident can be seen here or in the player embedded below:

    Montalvo\’s previous incidents

    \"Armando

    This is the first time that Montalvo has tried to invade an Impact Wrestling tapings, but not his first attempt to interfere in a wrestling promotion.

    In 2015, Montalvo caused a major disturbance outside WWE\’s Performance Center and was shot after charging at a Florida deputy.

    Montalvo was taken to a local medical facility in critical condition but recovered.

    In 2019, a court order banned Montalvo from the Performance Center grounds, and he was arrested in June 2020 for trespassing.

    During the hearing, Montalvo annoyed guards by wearing a red clown nose and reportedly frustrated the judge, calling her \”baby girl.\”

  • Young Rock Will Go Head-to-Head with SmackDown on Friday Nights

    The Rock is gearing up to lay the smack down on… SmackDown.

    NBC has announced Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson\’s hit comedy series, Young Rock moves Fridays for its upcoming third season. This puts Young Rock head-to-head up against WWE SmackDown on Fox.

    Both shows have deep ties to Dwayne Johnson, with \’Young Rock\’ being based on the former WWE Champion\’s journey to superstardom.

    As for SmackDown, the show was named after one of \”The Great One\’s\” signature catchphrases upon its arrival in 1999.

    Young Rock Moves to Fridays for Season 3

    \"Young

    In a presentation held on Monday, NBCU confirmed their fall schedule with a one-hour comedy block planned for Friday nights.

    The first half-hour will be George Lopez\’s \’Lopez vs. Lopez\’ and air at 8pm ET, followed by \’Young Rock.\’

    The 8:30 pm ET time will see \’Young Rock\’ square off directly with Smackdown\’s second half-hour on FOX.

    Season three of \’Young Rock\’ was confirmed last week and will mark the show\’s move to Friday nights after so far airing on Tuesdays.

    Ratings for the show\’s second season have averaged 2.148 million viewers and a 0.37 in the key 18-49 demographic.

    Season two of Young Rock will wrap up next week with two episodes set to air on May 24.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CdnzVutLl7B/

  • Japanese Pro Wrestling Legend Yu Ishino (Kagetsu) Comes out as Transgender

    Retired Japanese pro-wrestler Yu Ishino (fka Kagetsu) has come out as transgender and spoken about his experience transitioning.

    Ishino is best known for his time competing for STARDOM, where he is a former World of STARDOM Champion, capturing the title in 2018 from Toni Storm.

    In a YouTube video, Ishino came out as a transgender male and spoke about his experiences.

    \”I underwent the surgery and now I am living as a man … I feel like a 14-year-old boy (because everything is still so very new), but I hope moving forward, I’ll still have your support as I try new things.\”

    Yu Ishino

    Ishino was happy to show off his \”tiny little chin beard,\” and said that he will be leaving the Kagetsu name behind.

    “I know how beloved the name Kagetsu is, but with this video, I would like to put that name to rest.\”

    Yu Ishino
    https://twitter.com/doranyanpa/status/1525079443122708480

    Outside of his native Japan, Ishino competed for CHIKARA in 2012 and Ring of Honor in 2018.

    Ishino retired in 2020 and faced NXT UK Women\’s Champion Meiko Satomura in his last match, but returned to the ring for last year\’s Hana Kimura Memorial Show.

    Thanks to POST Wrestling\’s Karen Peterson for the translated quotes

  • Rikishi Says He\’s Voting for The Rock for U.S. President

    WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi has thrown his weight behind The Rock should \”The Brahma Bull\” ever run for President of the United States.

    While best known for his career in the ring and in Hollywood, The Rock has said he is seriously considering a political career, calling it a \”real possibility\” in 2017.

    More recently, \”The Great One\” has said he has done research into a potential run for President of the United States of America.

    Speaking to  Brandon Robinson of Bally Sports, Rikishi showed his support for his cousin\’s potential election campaign.

    \”I\’m voting for him… I\’ll be voting for him because i\’m not the political cat, I\’m just the cat who supports the people.\”

    Rikishi

    The premise of NBC\’s Young Rock sees the Hollywood A-Lister recall his life in a series of interviews when running for President.

    Young Rock was greenlit for a third season last week.

    The People\’s President?

    The Rock as President may seem far-fetched, but his potential campaign already has some serious momentum.

    In an April 2021 poll, 46% of people asked said they\’d consider voting for the former WWE Champion in a Presidential election.

    Responding, The Rock said \”it\’d be my honor\” to run for President, and has said he will run if the people want him.

    Thank you to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.

  • WWE Reportedly has a List of Talent Approved to get Haircuts

    WWE Hall of Famer Edge changed up his haircut recently, but only because he was allowed to by the promotion.

    On the post-WrestleMania Backlash Raw, Edge debuted his new shorter hairdo in a segment where The Judgment Day accepted Rhea Ripley as their newest member.

    According to a new report from Fightful, WWE has a specific list of Superstars who are allowed to change their hair in a noticeable way.

    In addition to Edge, Becky Lynch is allowed to change her hair, as fans saw during the build-up to WrestleMania 38.

    On the March 28, 2022, edition of Raw, Bianca Belair cut Lynch\’s hair during an in-ring brawl and \”Big Time Becks\” has been working with a new haircut ever since.

    The full list of talent who are allowed to change their hair is as follow:

    Raw

    • AJ Styles
    • Bobby Lashley
    • Cody Rhodes
    • Damian Priest
    • Dolph Ziggler
    • Edge
    • Finn Balor
    • Kevin Owens
    • The Miz
    • Randy Orton
    • Riddle
    • Seth Rollins

    SmackDown

    • Drew McIntyre
    • Happy Corbin
    • Jey Uso
    • Jimmy Uso
    • Kofi Kingston
    • Madcap Moss
    • Paul Heyman
    • Ricochet
    • Roman Reigns
    • Sami Zayn
    • Sheamus
    • Xavier Woods

    Fightful adds that while United States Champion Theory isn\’t on the list, he can often be found getting a new style backstage at Raw tapings.

  • Alexa Bliss Shows Off New Tattoo

    Alexa Bliss has revealed a new tattoo that matches ink with her husband Ryan Cabrera.

    Last month, the former Raw Women\’s Champion tied the knot with her musician husband during a ceremony at Kempa Villa in Palm Desert, California.

    In a tweet, Bliss showed off her new ink: a black heart with caricatures of both her and her husband.

    Cabrera\’s arm can also be seen in the image with the same tattoo.

    Bliss\’ return to WWE

    \"Alexa
    After weeks of therapy sessions removing the supernatural aspects of her character, Bliss returned as that character in the 2022 Women\’s Elimination Chamber match.

    Despite being one of the most popular female Superstars in recent years, Alexa Bliss has had a strange time as of late.

    In September 2021, Bliss went on a lengthy hiatus due to needing time off to recover from sinus surgery.

    After a lengthy absence, Bliss returned in January, appearing in a series of therapy segments that seemed to end her supernatural character.

    Competing at the 2022 Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event, Bliss returned to that character and was reportedly frustrated with the lack of creative direction for her.

    Bliss returned to WWE TV this week ditching her supernatural character, but still carried Lilly to the ring.

  • Don\’t Call Ronda Rousey the SmackDown Women’s Champion

    Ronda Rousey may be defending the ‘SmackDown Championship’ from now on, following some unique verbiage on last night’s SmackDown.

    At WrestleMania Backlash, Rousey captured the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Charlotte Flair in an \”I Quit\” match.

    During this week’s episode of the blue brand, Rousey referred to herself as the ‘SmackDown Champion,’ and issued an open challenge for the ‘SmackDown Championship.’

    The term was also used on commentary by Pat McAfee.

    This isn’t the first time Rousey has used this term, as in the run-up to WrestleMania 38, the former UFC fighter vowed to become the SmackDown Champion.

    “You can call me your new Women’s SmackDown Champion. SmackDown Women’s Champion? Why do we even say ‘women’ in it anyway? You can call me the SmackDown Champion!”

    Ronda Rousey

    Both Michael Cole and ring announcer Samantha Irvin referred to Rousey as the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

    There’s been no confirmation of the new name, as WWE.com refers to the title as the SmackDown Women’s Championship.

    Who\’s next in line?

    \"WWE
    Rousey defended the SmackDown Women\’s Championship against Raquel Rodriguez on this week\’s WWE SmackDown.

    With Charlotte Flair out of action, for the time being, it remains to be seen who will be next to challenge the Baddest Woman on the Planet.

    Last night’s match with Raquel Rodriguez was undoubtedly impressive, but with Rodriguez losing, it’s unlikely she’ll be feuding with Rousey at this time.

    Removing Flair, Rodriguez, and current Tag Team Champions Naomi and Sasha Banks leaves five SmackDown Superstars eligible for the Hot Rod.

    Natalya, Shayna Baszler, Xia Li, Shotzi, and Aliyah could all be the next opponent for the former UFC fighter.

    • Booker T Praises Ronda Rousey for her Work With Charlotte Flair (May 2022)

  • What Happened With Bobby Lashley After SmackDown Went off the Air?

    Happy Corbin lost his smile after facing Bobby Lashley in a post-show match following last night’s SmackDown.

    During last night’s episode, Corbin continued his feud with Madcap Moss, attacking his former tag-team partner with the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Trophy.

    After SmackDown went off the air, Corbin faced Lashley, who made quick work of the former United States Champion. Lashley delivered multiple spears to Corbin to send the crowd home happy.

    What\’s next for the All Mighty?

    At WrestleMania Backlash, Lashley lost to Omos, marking the All Mighty’s first televised pinfall loss in seven months.

    Prior to last weekend’s Premium Live Event, Lashley’s previous pinfall loss was at Crown Jewel 2021, where he fell to Goldberg in a No Holds Barred Falls Count Anywhere match.

    With Lashley and Omos now tied for wins on Premium Live Events, it\’s believed that a rubber match will take place at Hell in a Cell on June 5.

    The question now is whether the expected rematch will happen inside Hell in a Cell, as Omos is still relatively new to WWE, having had under 100 matches throughout his entire wrestling career, and may not be ready for the iconic stipulation match.

    Lashley is undefeated inside Hell in a Cell, having won two matches inside the Cell last year.

  • AEW\’s Brian Pillman Jr. Cast In Upcoming Action Movie

    AEW\’s Brian Pillman Jr. is set to make his acting debut after being cast in an upcoming action movie.

    On Twitter, the director Michael Matteo Rossi announced that Pillman will have a role in \’The Charisma Killers,\’ an upcoming action film that focuses on a mentor and his cult of killers.

    In his response, Pillman said that he\’s graduated from a Varsity Blond to a Hollywood Blond, a reference to the tag team his father was in.

    Brian Pillman Sr. teamed with \’Stunning\’ Steve Austin as The Hollywood Blonds in 1993, capturing the NWA/WCW World Tag Team Championships in March that year.

    The Charisma Killers

    Pillman will be making his acting debut in the new film, but he\’s not the only wrestler tied to the project.

    Last month, a day after announcing her hiatus from wrestling, Impact\’s Jessica McKay confirmed that she will be in the film, playing the role of \’Swinger Wife.\’

    The film will also feature performances by Vernon Wells (Commando), Marnette Patterson (American Sniper), and Jason Scott Jenkins (American Horror Story.)

  • Tammy Sytch Back in Jail After Judge Revokes Her Bond (Mugshot)

    WWE Hall of Famer Tammy Sytch (Sunny) is back behind bars after having her $227,000 bail bond revoked.

    Sytch was arrested last week and charged with nine felonies, including DUI Manslaughter, but posted bail the next day.

    In a Friday morning hearing, the prosecution argued that Sytch\’s three prior DUI convictions meant that revoking her bail was necessary.

    Sytch was three-and-a-half times over the legal limit when she was tested following the three-vehicle car crash that killed 75-year-old Julian Lasseter in March.

    The ruling judge determined that there was no reasonable way to keep the public safe from Sytch\’s reckless behavior than revoking her bond.

    Sytch was handcuffed and escorted from the courtroom immediately after the judge\’s ruling.

    Her next court date related to this matter will be on May 31, when she faces her arrangement.

    The other case against Tammy Sytch

    Sytch is facing nine felony charges related to the three-vehicle accident in March 2022, but this is not the only legal issue she\’s dealing with.

    Sytch is also expected to appear in New Jersey on May 26, in relation to a February 2022 arrest and eleven felony charges.

    The charges against Sytch for the New Jersey case include DUI and reckless driving.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CdgbaG_OQEl/

  • Top AEW Stars Appearing on \’Carpool Karaoke: The Series\’ Soon

    Stars from AEW are preparing to step out of the ring and into the car as part of the next season of Carpool Karaoke: The Series.

    The Emmy Award-winning show, now entering its fifth season is based on the Carpool Karaoke segment from “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”

    AEW stars appearing on the upcoming season include:

    • CM Punk
    • Bryan Danielson
    • Britt Baker
    • MJF
    • Christian Cage
    • Powerhouse Hobbs
    • Ruby Soho

    Other celebrity guests appearing on this season include Zoey Deschanel (New Girl), Simu Liu (Shang-Chi), and Sydney Sweeney (The Handmaid’s Tale).

    Carpool Karaoke: The Series’ fifth season will premiere on May 27.

    Watch the Carpool Karaoke season 5 trailer here:

    AEW\’s burst into the mainstream

    \"Nyla
    AEW\’s Nyla Rose teamed with MARVEL recently to co-write Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1.

    While it\’s not uncommon to see WWE Superstars and personalities appear on late-night interviews or other non-WWE programming, AEW has made a big splash in a relatively short amount of time.

    Earlier this week, it was announced that Orange Cassidy, Chuck Taylor, and Kris Statlander will appear on the upcoming season of Netflix’s ‘Floor is Lava.’

    The show features contestants trying to cross an obstacle course without falling into the ‘lava’ underneath.

    AEW isn’t just making their presence felt in programming, as former Women’s World Champion Nyla Rose recently teamed with MARVEL, co-writing the ‘Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird #1 which hit shelves this month.

  • MJF Says Ex-WWE Stars Who Join AEW Can \”Go To Hell\”

    MJF isn’t holding back with his latest comments about former WWE Superstars who have come to AEW.

    While the All-Elite promotion is home to several ex-Superstars, including Adam Cole, Malakai Black, Bryan Danielson, and more, MJF worked for CZW and MLW before signing with Tony Khan in January 2019.

     Sitting down with Brandon Walker on Rasllin’ MJF said that the company is “inaccurate” for giving high-profile contracts to ex-WWE talent.

    “All these f***ing ex-WWE guys that are making an absurd amount of money when, quite frankly, they can’t sniff my f***ing jock [strap] when it comes to the ratings I pull in whenever I\’m on screen, I think they can all go to hell. Somebody in the upper management has a problem with me and it\’s very obvious if you see what I\’m dealing with week to week.”

    \”They can’t sniff my f***ing jock [strap] when it comes to the ratings I pull in whenever I\’m on screen, I think they can all go to hell.

    MJF

    When asked about Shawn Spears, an ex-WWE Superstar who now works with MJF in the Pinnacle, the Salt of the Earth said he’d be treated differently in WWE than the former Tye Dillinger.

    “When I go over there, I\’m not gonna have to deal with the same type of bulls**t that poor Shawn Spears had to deal with.”

    MJF

    Will MJF jump ship?

    \"WATCH
    A young MJF tried out for the 2015 season of WWE Tough Enough, with his application video still available to watch on WWE\’s official YouTube channel.

    MJF may be one of AEW’s most prominently featured stars, but the relationship between him and Tony Khan is reportedly strained.

    The Salt of the Earth has made no secret that his AEW contract expires in January 2024 and has openly discussed jumping to WWE.

    Last December, it was reported that WWE\’s television partners are “very interested” in MJF and Wardlow, and the company is expected to make an offer when given the chance.

    Thank you to Fightful for the quotes.

  • DDP Says Tammy Sytch “Was on the Right Path” Before Recent Arrest

    WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page has said that Tammy Sytch had been doing well prior to her recent arrest.

    Sytch was arrested earlier this month and charged with nine felonies, including DUI Manslaughter, related to her role in a three-vehicle car accident in March that killed one man.

    Speaking on the latest episode of ‘The Bro Show,’ Page said that Sytch had looked “great” when they met up four months ago:

    “She\’s been sober for long periods of time. She had been on the right path. I don\’t know what the trick here is, but I feel so bad. I saw her, God she looked great.”

    Diamond Dallas Page

    Page called Sytch’s relapse and recent run-in with the law a “really unfortunate situation.”

    The former WCW World Heavyweight Champion has spent years helping others, including Jake \’the Snake\’ Roberts and the late-Scott Hall.

    Sytch and the Hall of Fame

    \"WWE
    Sytch was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April 2011, the night before WrestleMania 27.

    Tammy Sytch was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011, alongside legends such as Shawn Michaels, the Road Warriors, and Hacksaw Jim Duggan.

    With this most recent arrest, there have been calls for her to have her Hall of Fame induction revoked with Mark Henry and Bill DeMott both saying it should happen.

    WWE revoked Hulk Hogan’s induction in 2015 after racist comments made by the Hulkster were shared online, but reinstated him into the Hall of Fame three years later.

    Sytch has fired back at claims for her to be removed, referencing DeMott’s controversial departure from his role as WWE head trainer.

    Thanks to Sportskeeda for the quotes.

  • Kota Ibushi May Be Done With NJPW

    Kota Ibushi could be on his way out of New Japan Pro Wrestling following a series of tweets in which he expressed his displeasure with the company.

    On Twitter, Ibushi has said that unfair treatment is just part of the problem with New Japan at the moment.

    In a series of screenshots of messages between himself and Kikuchi, a New Japan booker seemingly threatens to fire Ibushi.

    During the latest Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alverez said that a source close to the situation believes Ibushi will be gone from the company soon after publicly revealing info regarding NJPW business.

    \”The exact wording I was told is, \’he\’s burned his bridges.\’\”

    Bryan Alverez.

    Alverez added that this could have major ramifications for Ibushi and that other promotions in Japan may be hesitant to work with him.

    \”The culture of Japan is you don\’t do stuff like this… There\’s kind of this feeling that he may be done.\”

    Bryan Alverez

    On the most recent Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Ibushi had not been fired yet, and Gedo had been trying to \”save the deal\” with the inaugural IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.

    Ibushi in the United States

    \"WWE
    Kota Ibushi had a brief run in WWE in 2016 as part of the Cruiserweight Classic.

    If Ibushi\’s actions have cost him work in Japan, then the 39-year-old wrestler may take his talents to the U.S.

    In 2016, Ibushi briefly worked with WWE, competing in the Cruiserweight Classic but was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual winner T.J. Perkins.

    With WWE ending their Cruiserweight Championship division, a role in WWE may seem unlikely for Ibushi, who could join his former tag-team partner Kenny Omega in AEW.

    This too has its problems, as AEW and New Japan will be working closely together ahead of the Forbidden Door event on June 26, and signing Ibushi could possibly strain this relationship.

  • Booker T Says Tammy Sytch Shouldn\’t Be Removed From WWE Hall of Fame

    Should Tammy Sytch (Sunny) be removed from the WWE Hall of Fame in light of her ongoing legal troubles?

    Last week, Sytch was charged with DUI Manslaughter, driving with an expired license, and seven counts of DUI, stemming from her three-vehicle collision back in March that killed a man.

    There have been calls for Sytch, a 2011 WWE Hall of Fame inductee, to have her honor revoked. WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry and former NXT head trainer Bill DeMott are both advocating for her removal.

    Booker T, also a member of the Hall, says Sytch should not be removed despite the nine felony charges against her.

    On the latest episode of his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker explained why he feels removing Sunny from the Hall of Fame would be pointless.

    “I’m not looking for reasons to remove somebody from the WWE Hall of Fame, ok? That’s just me personally. I don’t think removing her from the WWE Hall of Fame is going to help her in any way.”

    Booker T

    Booker added that alcoholism is “something very difficult to kick.”

    Sytch recently fired back at DeMott for his comments in a Facebook post that referenced his controversial departure from WWE.

    DeMott resigned from WWE in 2015 following multiple accusations of misconduct by his students.

    The case against Tammy Sytch

    \"Ex-WWE
    Sytch is looking at serious jail time if found guilty of the nine charges against her.

    In March 2022, Sytch was driving her boyfriend’s vehicle, when it crashed into a stationary car that was waiting at a red light.

    This vehicle collided with the vehicle in front, with 75-year-old Julian Lasseter, the driver of the center car, being pronounced dead later at a local hospital.

    A toxicology report has revealed that Sytch was three-and-a-half times over the legal blood alcohol limit when driving the car.

    Often called the first WWF Diva, Sytch could spend decades behind bars if found guilty of the charges against her.

    Thanks to Inside the Ropes for the quotes

  • Former WWE Head Writer Announces Book Documenting His Experience

    Former WWE head writer Brian Gewirtz has written a tell-all memoir about working for the company which will hit shelves this August.

    Last December, Gewirtz announced that he was writing a book that would detail his journey to WWE and career as a writer.

    On Twitter this week, Gewirtz confirmed the book\’s title, \’There\’s Just One Problem,\’ saying that it \”documents over a decade\’s worth of adventures as head writer.\”

    The book is now available for pre-order at Amazon.

    There\’s Just One Problem…

    Gewirtz promises \”untold stories\” featuring \”the biggest names and controversial moments in wrestling.\”

    While the book won\’t be released to the public until August 16, the 288-page work has been read by some already, with Becky Lynch calling it \”the best book I have read in years.\”

    WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle has praised \’There\’s Just One Problem\’ saying it is \”as entertaining as the scripts Brian wrote during his amazing career.\”

    The book will be published \’Twelve Books publishing\’ and will be available in hardback, ebook, and audiobook.

    About the Author

    Brian Gewirtz joined the WWE (then WWF) in 1999 after working with Dwayne \’The Rock\’ Johnson for a segment with MTV.

    It was \”The Brahma Bull\” who approached the then 26-year-old writer, asking if he\’d ever considered a role with the wrestling promotion.

    Sticking with WWE for over 15 years, Gewirtz left in 2015 to join The Rock\’s production company \’Seven Bucks Productions.\’

  • AEW Blood & Guts Match Is Coming Back Soon (Report)

    AEW is planning on bringing back their ‘Blood and Guts’ match soon, according to Dave Meltzer.

    The ‘Blood and Guts’ match earned its name when Vince McMahon dismissed AEW, saying in 2019 that TNT will not appreciate “blood and guts” on their programming.

    Back in April, Tony Khan said he expects Blood & Guts to be back this summer.

    On Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said he does not know who will be in the match, but current storytelling suggests that the Jericho Appreciation Society will be involved.

    On this week’s Dynamite, the JAS was confronted by Eddie Kingston, Santana, and Ortiz as well as all four members of the Blackpool Combat Club.

    At this time, neither the JAS, the BCC nor Kingston, Santana, or Ortiz have been announced for Double or Nothing 2022.

    Next week’s AEW Dynamite will see Jericho and BCC’s William Regal go face-to-face in a promo segment.

    The first \’Blood and Guts\’ match

    \"AEW
    The Pinnacle defeat The Inner Circle in the first \’Blood and Guts\’ match in May 2021.

    AEW has hosted just one ‘Blood and Guts’ match so far, which was originally meant to happen in March 2020.

    That show was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the first-ever ‘Blood and Guts’ event would take place over a year later in May 2021.

    In the show’s main event, The Pinnacle defeated the Inner Circle in the titular match, after the Inner Circle surrendered when MJF threatened to throw Chris Jericho off the cage.

    Throwing Jericho off anyway, the spot was heavily criticized as the former World Champion clearly landed on a crash pad (disguised as steel on the entrance stage).

    At the time, a member of WWE management reportedly said that the ‘Blood and Guts’ match “just set the business back 30 years.”

  • Tony Khan Responds to Criticism of AEW Using Too Much Blood

    AEW President Tony Khan has defended the company’s use of blood by saying that his media partners have no problem with it.

    While WWE has a no-blood policy, AEW allows for the use of blood with Britt Baker Vs. Thunder Rosa from the March 17, 2021, Dynamite and Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley from AEW Revolution 2021 being two of their bloodiest bouts.

    This has led to criticism, with Vince McMahon saying in 2019 that TNT will not tolerate “blood and guts” on their programming.

    After AEW used the “blood and guts” term for their May 2021 show, a member of WWE management claimed that the show’s main event “just set the business back 30 years.”

    Addressing the critics this week in an interview with News 12 Long Island, Khan said that bloody matches have generally been well-received (h/t Fightful).

    \”It\’s certainly not every week, you don\’t see it on a weekly basis… For the most part, you see a focus on the in-ring action, but every once and a while, when things have gotten out of hand, it\’s been old-school pro wrestling in a way that has been very healthy and has been well-received by our media partners and fans.\”

    WWE\’s History With Blood

    \"BREAKING:
    Brock Lesnar was busted open by Roman Reigns at a March 2022 WWE Live event inside Madison Square Garden.

    While WWE is staunchly against the use of blood, some of the company’s most iconic moments have featured blading.

    In 2008, WWE scrapped blood as part of their newly introduced PG rating but has used blood sparingly ever since.

    At their most recent event in Madison Square Garden, Brock Lesnar was busted open by Roman Reigns in the build to their WrestleMania 38 title-unification match.