WWE Superstar and GHC Tag Team Champion Omos is enjoying his time in Japan and recently opened up about his experience overseas. This week, the Nigerian Giant was stopped for an impromptu interview in which he gave insight into his time abroad.
Favorite Thing: Omos appreciates how people in Japan have been \”super nice\” to him since he arrived in the country.
Dealing With Food: It took Omos some time to handle the Japanese cuisine given that this is his first time in the country. Omos is now \”beginning to figure it out\” and now loves yakiniku. The term refers to bite-size pieces of meat and vegetables that are grilled.
Culture Shock: The biggest shock for Omos has been that there are a lot of social rules in Japan compared to his time in the U.S. Adapting to Japan\’s gyms, which feature both indoor and outdoor facilities, has also proven to be different for the seven-foot wrestler.
Omos\’ time with NOAH demonstrates the current management of WWE being far more open to working with other promotions. It remains to be seen when we\’ll next see Omos in a WWE ring, but the GHC Tag Team Champion is certainly making waves in Japan.
The debut episode of WWE Raw on Netflix currently available on the streaming juggernaut is not the same as the episode fans saw live this week. Fans who watch the show on Netflix now are greeted with a message, noting that this show has been \”Edited from a previous live stream.\”
One significant change made is that explicit language has been scrubbed from the show. During his opening promo, The Rock cursed, but these words have been removed. Similarly, the \”F*** you Solo\” chants inside the Intuit Dome have also been edited out of the broadcast.
The edited Raw is also far shorter than the live show fans saw this week. While the live version of the show clocked in at just over three hours (not including the post-show press conference) the edited version is around 2 hours 20 minutes. This is because commercial breaks have been removed.
Previously, the unedited version of the Raw premiere but it has now been replaced with this edited version of the show. Nevertheless, fans will be able to enjoy the epic moments from this week\’s historic debut on Netflix, even if what they\’re seeing isn\’t entirely what happened.
Former WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin is embracing her future outside of wrestling with new music coming next month. To celebrate her birthday, Irvin took to Instagram to share that her newest musical project will be released on Valentine\’s Day (February 14). Irvin\’s announcement also saw birthday wishes in the comments from the likes of Nia Jax, Saraya, and more.
Irvin parted ways with WWE in October 2024, and shared shortly after that she planned on pursuing her career as a musician. Though she has no interest in returning to wrestling as an announcer, Irvin has teased being a manager. The role is one WWE wished to hold in WWE, and realizing that the company never saw her as anything more than a ring announcer played a role in her decision to leave.
Irvin is no stranger to music, with notable highlights of hers including.
2011–2015: Performed as the lead female vocalist in the Michael Jackson tribute show Thriller – Live.
2015: Competed in season 10 of America\’s Got Talent, auditioning with Aretha Franklin\’s \”(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman\”; advanced to the semi-finals.
2015: Headlined the show Home at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford, showcasing her talents in singing, whistling, dancing, storytelling, and flute playing.
2016: Released an EP titled 27Underground, featuring the debut single \”Jump High,\” with backing vocals from her siblings.
2016: Played the role of Betty Rizzo in a production of Grease at the New Bedford Festival Theatre.
2020: Appeared on FOX\’s I Can See Your Voice, performing Lizzo\’s \”Good as Hell\” while playing the flute.
Irvin continues to make waves in entertainment, even with questions remaining about her future in the wrestling industry. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Samantha Irvin and her projects in and out of the ring.
Black Bart, a veteran of the wrestling business has died at the age of 76. On social media, Bart\’s wife Linda shared the sad news of his passing.
\”You might know him as Black Bart but to me he was my husband Ricky. He left us this morning . He was pronounced at 5:26 this morning. He is Resting In Peace.\”
Bart shared on Facebook in March 2023 that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer that had spread to his liver. Last month, Dutch Mantell shared on his storytime podcast that Bart was back at home after a stay in hospital, as his insurance had ran out. It was also shared that Bart would no longer be undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Scott Norton, JBL, and Black Bart (right) at The Big Event fan fest in November 2021.
Bart began his career in the 1970s and competed across the territories and in Japan. In 1990, Bart arrived in the WWF, where he faced several names, including a young Dustin Rhodes in what\’d be the future Goldust\’s WWF debut. A year later, he joined WCW, where he\’d formed the \’Desperados\’ stable alongside Mantel and Deadeye Dick.
After retiring from the ring in 2022, Bart wrestled one more time in 2006 but spent his post-in-ring career as a trainer. His most notable trainee is WWE Hall of Famer John \’Bradshaw\’ Layfield, though he also trained former ROH star Necro Butcher.
Our thoughts are with Bart\’s family and those who knew him at this sad time.
Chelsea Green is riding high after becoming the inaugural WWE Women’s United States Champion and is ready to take on all-comers. While speaking to The Wrestling Classic, Green discussed her future in the ring, and had some celebrity opponents in mind.
\”I keep seeing Miss Vanessa Hudgens. I want to give myself a match with Vanessa Hudgens and a match with Cardi B. Those are my dream celeb matches right now.”
The actress, best known for her break-out role in High School Musical, was seen in the crowd during this week\’s historic Raw on Netflix. Time will tell whether fans one day see Hudgens in action against Green and if the (by default) longest-reigning, most dominant Women\’s U.S. Champion of all time, gets her match with Cardi B.
WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss is set to expand her role in entertainment with a voice-over role in the upcoming Sakamoto Days anime. Bliss will provide the English voice for the character Obiguro, the Anime News Network reports.
Sakamoto Days tells the story of Taro Sakamoto, a retired legendary hitman who has settled into a quiet and mundane life as a family man. When a bounty is put on his head, Sakamoto must keep himself and his family alive while observing his wife\’s no-killing rule. Bliss will portray one of the several assassins seeking the bounty.
Alexa Bliss\’ Roles
Though best known for her time as a WWE Superstar, Bliss has had her fair share of on-screen roles outside of the ring. These include:
Total Divas (2015–2019)
Role: Herself
Details: Bliss appeared as a guest in seasons 4, 6, 8, and 9, and was a main cast member in season 7 of this reality TV series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of WWE female wrestlers.
Walk the Prank (2017–2018)
Role: Herself
Details: She appeared in two episodes of this children\’s TV show that combines scripted comedy with real pranks on unsuspecting people.
Carpool Karaoke: The Series (2018)
Role: Herself
Details: Bliss featured in an episode where celebrities sing along to their favorite songs while driving.
Punky Brewster (2021)
Role: Herself
Details: She made a guest appearance as her wrestling persona alongside fellow WWE wrestler Charlotte Flair in this revival of the 1980s sitcom.
The Masked Singer (2023)
Role: Axolotl
Details: Bliss competed as the character \”Axolotl\” in the ninth season of this singing competition show, where celebrities perform in elaborate costumes to conceal their identities.
The Queen of Villains (2024)
Role: Voice of Maki Ueda Details: Bliss provided the English voice for wrestler Maki Ueda in this Netflix series based on Japanese pro wrestling legend Dump Matsumoto.
Bliss will voice Obiguro, a master assassin who is an expert in karate who targets Taro Sakamoto.
Hulk Hogan was resoundingly booed during this week\’s Raw, the show\’s debut episode on Netflix. Many attribute the negative response to lingering backlash over racist comments Hogan made, which Mark Henry believes the Hulkster has not adequately addressed.
\”With the social climate and the things [Hulk\’s] said and done and his lack of effort to try and fix it, people are gonna come down on it.\”
Hogan was fired from WWE in 2015 after a leaked video revealed him making racist comments. In the footage, Hogan expressed disgust at the idea of his daughter dating a Black man, repeatedly used the n-word, and admitted to being \”a racist, to a point.\”
According to Henry, Hogan made little effort to genuinely reflect or grow from the incident, instead seemingly hoping the controversy would fade over time.
\”He never wanted to go forward and fix it. That\’s what happens when you think everything is gonna go away. It\’s not gonna go away.\”
WWE reinstated Hogan in 2018, though fan reactions have been mixed since his return. Upon rejoining the company, Hogan held a backstage meeting where he apologized for his comments and for damaging WWE\’s image. However, his apology also included a cautionary message to others about being recorded without their consent.
Hogan has been featured in promotional material for this month\’s WWE Saturday Night\’s Main Event, though questions remain as to whether he\’ll appear in person. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest updates on the controversial Hall of Famer, whose actions outside the ring continue to shape his legacy among fans.
WWE is stepping into the ring with Cosm in an innovative partnership to deliver premium live events (PLEs) within a shared reality.
These events, including WrestleMania, SummerSlam and the Royal Rumble, will be delivered in Shared Reality at Cosm’s experiential venues in Los Angeles and Dallas. Those in attendance will be transported ringside and granted a front-row view of the PLEs, starting with next month\’s Royal Rumble 2025 event.
Peter Murphy, Senior Vice President of Media and Content, Cosm, shared his excitement about the partnership.
“At Cosm, we bring fans together to experience the biggest and best events in the world, wherever those events may be taking place. Now, we get to showcase the WWE in Shared Reality, delivering another incredible way for fans to experience their shared passion.”
Alex Varga, Co-Head of Revenue, WWE, was similarly amped to partner with Cosm, who they said was redefining the future of fan experience.
\”WWE Premium Live Events are larger than life, and with such an innovative partner in Cosm, we will collectively bring the energy of our biggest moments to an expanded WWE universe.”
Cosm launched in Los Angeles in July 2024 and opened its second venue in Dallas\’ Colony\’s Grandscape the following month. Last year, plans were announced for a third location in downtown Atlanta and a fourth venue will be located in downtown Detroit.
Seth Rollins aims to wrestle far longer than he first envisioned, thanks to WWE scaling back on their live events schedule. On the Insight podcast, Rollins reflected on WWE Superstars not spending as much time taking bumps in the ring.
\”Live Events, non-televised events have kind of dissipated, which for guys like me, I\’ve wrestled over 2,000 matches in my career, that\’s nice for me.\”
In late 2024, TKO President Mark Shapiro shared that WWE planned on cutting back on the number of untelevised events. This change is already being felt, with WWE\’s first live event of 2025 not coming until March 15, in Dortmund, Germany as part of the upcoming European tour.
With fewer live events, Rollins is less at risk of getting injured and has more time to recover from knocks in the ring. Looking to the future, the former World Champion believes this lighter schedule will extend his time in the ring,
\”I feel like I\’ll be able to extend my career probably longer than I thought I was going to and then it just depends on where I want to go from there.\”
Though Rollins is pleased to be competing at fewer events, not everyone in WWE shares his opinion. In September 2024, Liv Morgan shared her sadness at the change, saying that the \’house shows\’ are \”so much fun\” for the talent involved. Morgan shared that it was at live events that she really honed her craft, and is sad that future talent won\’t get that same opportunity.
Fans eager to see Seth Rollins in Captain America: Brave New World will be disappointed when the highly anticipated Marvel film hits theaters next month. On the Insight podcast, Rollins confirmed that, despite filming scenes for the movie, he is not included in the final cut.
\”It releases in February. I wish it the best, but I am not a part of that film… hopefully it\’s successful, but it will be sans Seth Rollins.\”
Rollins did not elaborate on why his role was cut, emphasizing that any explanation he provided would be speculative and not official. The former WWE World Champion also hinted at the presence of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), limiting what he could reveal about his involvement in the film.
\”The script went through a lot of rewrites and reshoots so what I was there to do, essentially my role got either repurposed or completely erased.\”
Photos from the set showed Rollins wearing a dark robe, leading fans to speculate that he was involved with the villainous Serpent Society.
Interestingly, this marks the second time a member of Rollins\’ family has been cut from a Marvel film. Becky Lynch, Rollins\’ wife, her post-credits scene for The Eternals removed, reportedly for being \”too depressing.\”
Although Rollins\’ Marvel debut didn’t materialize, the Monday Night Raw Superstar continues to thrive in the wrestling world. Following his unforgettable Raw on Netflix main event against CM Punk, fans are excited to see what’s next for the \”Visionary,\” both in and out of the ring.
Captain America: Brave New World will be released on February 14, 2025.
Brie Garcia, formerly known as Brie Bella in WWE, has opened up about the possibility of returning to the ring following Nikki\’s appearance at Raw\’s debut on Netflix. During an appearance on the We Got Time Today show, Brie said that while the drive to compete is always there, time is not on their side.
“The hard thing about getting older, is that there’s that person inside you who, it’s like, ‘I would do anything to go back ten years to compete in the ring against the women today.\”
Brie hasn\’t competed in years, but admtted on the podcast that both she and her sister discuss potential promos they could cut, should a return happen. Even with her full-time career a distant memory, Brie remains closely attached to WWE.
\”You still are always there. So any time if WWE calls and is like, ‘Hey, ladies, we want you back,’ it’s always hard to say no.”
Brie recently celebrated her husband Bryan Danielson’s AEW World Championship win at AEW All In London 2024, but clearly is open to a return to WWE. With both sisters last competing in the 2022 Women\’s Royal Rumble, it remains to be seen if they can still bring the action three years later, possibly in the Rumble match on February 1.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Brie Garcia, as her days in the ring may not be over just yet.
Will Ospreay\’s intriguing comments for Buddy Matthews didn\’t go unnoticed, as questions remain about the future of the House of Black. During this week\’s Dynamite, Ospreay encouraged Matthews to step out of the shadow of Malakai Black.
Ospreay got the win in their singles match, and after the show, Matthews admitted that 2025 had not kicked off as he had hoped. The Australian, who hopes to compete at Grand Slam next month, then turned his attention to Ospreay.
\”Will, even though you put a hiccup in my 2025, your words tonight didn’t go to deaf ears.\”
EXCLUSIVE @SNM_Buddy comments on the words spoken after his intense match with Will Ospreay, giving his take on the aftermath! pic.twitter.com/Xyhh2D6Snx
Ospreay\’s comment about Matthews stepping away from come at an interesting time, with reports that Black is finishing his time with AEW. The Dutchman hasn\’t competed for AEW since November\’s Full Gear pay-per-view, where he was on the losing end of a four-way tag team match with Matthews.
Matthews has been associated with Black since his arrival in AEW in 2022, and the prospect of the Australian going solo has intrigued fans. With his wife Rhea Ripley seeing huge success on her own in WWE, many are hoping to see Matthews do the same in AEW, if his time working with Black is indeed at an end as rumored.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Buddy Matthews and his status going forward in AEW, potentially as a singles performer.
The fun didn\’t stop for Kenny Omega after this week\’s episode of AEW Dynamite went off the air. Grabbing the mic after the show, Omega said goodbye with his signature \’bang\’ catchphrase.
\”And now that we are finally off the air, and finally I am not being attacked by anybody, I can finally say Goodbye and good night bang!\”
I couldn't really contain my excitement, but mostly happy I got the signature Kenny sign off in person.
The show in Clarksville, Tennessee marked Omega\’s return to Dynamite. During the show, Omega discussed his struggles with diverticulitis, his doubts about returning to the ring, and his determination to prove that he can still be the best.
Omega\’s homecoming was interrupted by Don Callis, and Brian Cage, Lance Archer and Kyle Fletcher thwarted the Cleaner\’s attempt to get his hands on Callis. Will Ospreay arrived to make the save with a steel chair, leading to a tense face-off between former rivals to end the show.
Omega’s next match will be against Brian Cage on the January 15 episode of AEW Dynamite. With this being Omega\’s first match on Dynamite since the November 15, 2023, episode of AEW\’s flagship show, fans are excited to see how the Canadian fares in just seven days time.
Hulk Hogan\’s return to WWE programming didn\’t go entirely during this week\’s Raw, but fans may not have seen the last of the Hulkster.
What Happened On Raw?
During Raw\’s historic debut episode on Netflix, Hogan appeared to promote his Real American Beer, an official sponsor of WWE events. Despite talking about his love for the fans, the Hulkster, who was accompanied by a flag-waving Jimmy Hart, was resoundingly booed by those inside the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.
Hogan\’s Response
The Hulkster was reportedly not entirely surprised by the frosty reception he received this week. Sportskeeda\’s Chris Featherstone reports that Hogan \”thought it was going to be 50/50\” with half the fans on his side and half against him.
There are several reasons that fans may have booked one of pro wrestling\’s biggest stars, including:
Racist Remarks: racist remarks. In the video, Hogan used racial slurs, rejected the idea of his daughter dating Black men, and admitted to being “a racist, to a point.”
Political Controversies: Hogan’s support for Donald Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential election has alienated some fans. Controversy deepened last year after Hogan blamed a racially insensitive comment about Kamala Harris on his beer consumption.
Backstage Politics: Several wrestlers have accused Hogan of using backstage politics to advance his career at the expense of others.
Exaggerated Stories: Over the years, Hogan has been known for telling dubious anecdotes. Notably, he claimed to have wrestled at SummerSlam 1992 in memory of a young fan who had passed away—despite not appearing at the event.
Hogan\’s current standing among fans has raised questions as to what role, if any, the Hulkster will play in future WWE plans. The Daily Mail reports that \”Plans are for Hogan to be a bad guy again and to help out a future storyline with another wrestler.\”
The belief is that a heel turn could work, given the success of The Rock\’s Final Boss character in 2023, after fans rejected the Brahma Bull. Hogan has reportedly stipulated that he does not want his politics or support for President-Elect Trump to be a part of his on-screen character.
CM Punk will be a part of the 2025 Men\’s Royal Rumble match, bringing an exciting favorite to the contest. Punk declared his intention following this week\’s episode of WWE Raw, the debut episode of the red brand on Netflix.
Here’s everything you need to know about CM Punk\’s Royal Rumble legacy and what his entry means for this year’s event.
CM Punk Confirms His Entry for 2025
Punk announced the news in a post-show promo at the WWE RAW on Netflix premiere. The Best in the World shared that not only does he plan on winning the Men\’s Royal Rumble, but that he\’ll be winning gold this year.
For any WWE Superstar, being the 30th and final entrant into a Royal Rumble match is a win in and of itself. After all, the #30 spot is mathematically the best position to be in and has produced winners including John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, and Cody Rhodes. But we\’re not here to talk about the winners.
While #30 has produced plenty of winners, entering last is far from a guaranteed Rumble victory. Over the decades, we\’ve seen plenty of #30 entrants be eliminated as quickly as they entered.
Here are some Superstars who squandered their coveted spot as the #30 entrant.
The Warlord (1992)
Despite his size, The Warlord had some terrible luck in the Royal Rumble match.
Until Santino Marella broke the record in 2009, the Warlord\’s name was synonymous with having the shortest stint in a Royal Rumble with 2 seconds at the 1989 Rumble. Well two years later, the Warlord had better luck, but still had an abysmal performance. Lasting 1:43, Warlord scored no eliminations in the 1991 Rumble before being eliminated for the third time in his career by Hulk Hogan.
Adam Bomb (1994)
When Adam Bomb made his way to the ring as part of the 1994 Royal Rumble, Vince McMahon on commentary declared \”ADAM BOMB IS GOING TO WIN THE ROYAL RUMBLE!\” Now mind you, the match still had Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Lex Luger all in the bout.
As you\’ve figured out by now, Bomb didn\’t live up to McMahon\’s declaration as he was flattened and thrown out by the bigger stars in 4:55.
Duke \’The Dumpster\’ Droese (1996)
Nobody believed that Duke Droese would be headlining WrestleMania 12 by winning the 1996 Rumble.
We can\’t help but wonder what the fans in Fresno\’s Selland Arena felt when Duke Droese was the final participant in the 1996 Royal Rumble match. Seriously, did a single person think it\’d be Bret Hart Vs \’The Dumpster\’ at WrestleMania 12?
Droese eliminated nobody before being thrown out by Diesel and Kama after 1:10.
Vader (1998)
Once a top star of Japan and WCW, Vader\’s WWF run did not do the superheavyweight justice. Never was that more evident than the 1998 Royal Rumble match, in which Vader lasted just 2:15.
His sole elimination saw Vader throw out comedy cameo The Honky Tonk Man, making it clear that the powerhouse was not meant to be taken seriously as a possible winner.
Chyna (1999)
The first woman to enter a Royal Rumble match, Chyna did score a single elimination in the 1999 match, which is more than what most people on this list can boast.
But at 35 seconds, it felt like WWE wanted Chyna out of the match as quickly as she came in.
Booker T (2002)
Booker T\’s Royal Rumble debut would be a bad night for the former WCW World Champion.
Perhaps the biggest name who joined WWF after WCW\’s 2001 demise, Booker T had a rough start in the promotion. While he was Vince McMahon\’s pick in the 2002 Rumble match, Booker would last just 33 seconds before being tossed out. It\’d be a long time before the talented wrestler would be treated as a main eventer.
Rey Mysterio (2014)
8 years on from his 2006 win, Rey Mysterio entered to a chorus of boos in the 2014 Rumble match.
One of wrestling\’s most beloved heroes, Rey Mysterio\’s entrance as the #30 entrant in 2014 was quite a shock to behold.
Simply put, fans wanted Daniel Bryan, and Rey\’s arrival snuffed out their last hope. Rey lasted 2:10 and scored 0 eliminations, making his role seem even more egregious.
Dolph Ziggler (2018)
Dolph had vacated the U.S. title weeks before his lackluster role in the 2018 Men\’s Rumble match.
After surrending his newly-won U.S. title in late 2017, fans were curious as to what was to come for Dolph Ziggler. For months, Ziggler was nowhere to be seen, until he returned to programming as the #30 entrant in the 2018 Men\’s Rumble match.
Unfortunately for the Show-Off, his return was entirely anti-climactic, and he would be eliminated in 2:01 by Finn Balor. Ziggler\’s only elimination would see him toss out the cameoing Goldust, who lasted longer in the match than Dolph himself.
Nia Jax (Men\’s 2019)
Nobody expected R-Truth, the original #30 entrant in the 2019 Men\’s Rumble to win, but the decision to replace him with Nia Jax was entirely bizarre.
The following sequence which saw a bunch of male Superstars hit their finishers on Jax wouldn\’t help matters either, especially as some fans online seemed too eager to watch her get ganged up on. Jax would eliminate Mustafa Ali before being dumped out herself at 3:09.
Nia Jax (Women\’s 2023)
Four years on from her bizarre entry into the Men\’s Royal Rumble, Nia Jax made a surprise return to WWE during the 2023 Women\’s Rumble.
Her big return is probably best remembered for WWE displaying graphics with her name over ten seconds before her return. Jax eliminated nobody in her 1:57 stint in the match.
Oba Femi captured the WWE NXT Championship during this week\’s New Year\’s Evil show, and the Ruler also made history in the process. Femi dethroned Trick Williams to win the gold in a triple-threat match that also included Eddy Thorpe.
With his win, Femi has become the fifth Black WWE NXT Champion. This means that WWE has now crowned more black NXT Champions than have ever held the WWE Championship. Femi follows in the footsteps of former champions Big E (2012), Keith Lee (2019), Carmelo Hayes (2022), and Trick Williams (2022). WWE has crowned four black WWE Champions: The Rock, Kofi Kingston, Bobby Lashley, and Big E.
Femi\’s win was also only the 2nd time in WWE history that a brand’s main title changed hands between two black men. The only time this previously happened came in late 2021 when Big E won the WWE Championship from Bobby Lashley.
Here is how WWE NXT Champions break down by nationality:
Nationality
No. Of Champions
Champions
American
13
Seth Rollins, Big E, Bo Dallas, Samoa Joe*, Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole, Keith Lee, Karrion Kross, Bron Breakker, Dolph Ziggler, Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams
English
1
Adrian Neville
Canadian
4
Sami Zayn*, Kevin Owens, Bobby Roode, Ethan Page
Syrian
1
Sami Zayn*
Irish
1
Finn Balor
Samoan
1
Samoa Joe*
Japanese
1
Shinsuke Nakamura
Mexican
1
Andrade \’Cien\’ Almas
Dutch
1
Aleister Black
Russian
1
Ilja Dragunov
Scottish
1
Drew McIntyre
Nigerian
1
Oba Femi
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Oba Femi, as the new NXT Champion is ready to carry the silver brand into a new era in 2025.
The Rock made his first-ever appearance in WWE NXT this week, where he shared his love for WWE and teased that his issues with Cody Rhodes aren\’t over yet. The Final Boss is hardly the first surprising name to have shown up in WWE\’s developmental brand:
CM Punk
CM Punk has been keeping a close eye on NXT since his return but competed for the brand in a dark match in 2012. In a meeting of the internet \’darlings\’, Punk teamed with Seth Rollins to defeat Kassius Ohno and Antonio Cesaro.
Chris Jericho
Appearing on the May 1, 2013, episode, Chris Jericho bested Bray Wyatt in the main event of WWE NXT. Wyatt would arrive on the main roster later that year and the pair would feud in 2014.
Sheamus
Already a former World Champion, Sheamus defeated Luke Harper in July 2013 during the Celtic Warrior\’s first-ever match in NXT. Nine months later, Sheamus returned to the brand to defeat Aiden English.
John Cena
Cena made an appearance for NXT in 2023, but also appeared for the gold brand back years earlier. A segment with Enzo Amore and Big Cass ended with Cena delivering an AA to Damian Sandow, but as this was a dark segment, fans at home couldn\’t see John.
Team Hell No
After appearing on the game-show edition of NXT in 2010, Daniel Bryan returned to the gold brand alongside Kane on the November 28, 2012, episode. Team Hell No retained their tag titles on the night against Johnny Curtis and Michael McGillicutty.
Christian
Years before he was waging war on deceased fathers, Christian hosted a post-show edition of the peep-show after an October 2013 WWE NXT. This unlikely segment saw the unlikely guest of World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio and ended with Rusev standing tall over Del Rio.
Too Cool
The first-ever NXT TakeOver event saw Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay surprise fans in tag-team competition. The pair challenged then-champions The Ascension but failed to capture the gold.
Batista
Batista\’s 2014 run didn\’t go as WWE planned as the fans rejected the Animal in favor of Daniel Bryan, ultimately turning Batista heel. That same year though, Batista won fans back after an NXT taping. After Bo Dallas suggested the pair team up as \’Bo-tista\’ the Animal rejected the idea with a Batista Bomb to the delight of the crowd.
Dark Match, a new horror movie starring AEW\’s Chris Jericho, will land on the popular horror streaming service Shudder later this month. A description for the film reads:
A wrestling company lands a lucrative gig in a remote town, only to find themselves at the mercy of a cult leader with sinister intentions.
Jericho will play the role of \’Prophet\’ but isn\’t the only notable name attached. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Ayisha Issa (Transplant), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead, Westworld), Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries), Michael Eklund (The Call), and Jonathan Cherry (Goon). Lowell Dean (Wolfcop) is attached as writer and director.
A wrestling company lands a lucrative gig in a remote town, only to find themselves at the mercy of a cult leader with sinister intentions.
Dark Match will mark the latest big-screen role for Jericho, who\’s first foray into horror acting came in 2009’s Albino Farm. In 2022, Jericho played ‘Burke’ in Terrifier 2 and reprised the role for the film\’s sequel last year.
Jericho\’s love of horror has also extended into his pro-wrestling career, with his \’Painmaker\’ character during his New Japan run blending elements of horror and the macabre. While Jericho has shared his goal to develop the character and create a Painmaker movie, little has been heard about this project in recent years.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Chris Jericho as the wrestling legend continues to show his entertaining chops both in and out of the ring.
Fans can expect to see Becky Lynch back in the ring in the future as the former Women\’s Champion has reportedly signed a new deal with WWE. Sources confirmed to Fightful Select that Lynch and WWE reached an agreement for her return, though this does not mean she\’ll be back on TV immediately.
Lynch attended some Netflix-related events ahead of Raw\’s debut on the streaming juggernaut this week, though told people she was there simply to support the company. Lynch\’s husband Seth Rollins headlined the show in a loss to CM Punk.
Lynch was also featured in promotional material for the red brand\’s debut on Netflix, but did not have a role on the show. It\’s been reported that she was supposed to confront Rhea Ripley after the latter\’s Women\’s World Championship win, but that plan was nixed. Instead, The Undertaker appeared and shared a moment with Ripley in a huge endorsement of the Australian star.
Becky Lynch\’s previous WWE contract expired in June 2024, though reports at the time stated that WWE officials were optimistic that she\’d be back in due time. With the 2025 Women\’s Royal Rumble match drawing near, fans can look forward to seeing The Man come around, potentially as a surprise entrant in the 30-Woman match.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Becky Lynch, as her return to WWE programming and the ring doesn\’t appear to be a question of if, but when.
The Rock was part of this week\’s WWE NXT, during which he teased that his issues with Cody Rhodes are far from over.
The Final Boss appeared during a segment with Ethan Page, who was seen confronting Ava. The Rock interrupted Page’s complaints and addressed him directly about breaking Je’Von Evans’ jaw. In classic Rock fashion, he warned Page that “payback’s gonna be a b***h.”
The Rock made it clear that Ava is the real boss in NXT, adding that if Page wants to stay on The Rock’s good side, he needs to respect Ava. Later, Ava and The Rock shared a heartfelt on-screen moment with Ava saying it was special to have her father around.
Later in the night, The Rock cut a promo and mentioned Cody Rhodes, referencing his recent supportive gesture toward the American Nightmare during the RAW Netflix debut. Addressing skeptics, he assured fans that he was thinking several steps ahead and urged them to trust the journey he’s taking them on.
Despite the show\’s time constraints, The Rock joked that they could \”go all night.\” He dropped an unscripted f-bomb but quickly apologized for it before ending the night by thanking the fans for their passion and emphasized their importance to NXT.
The Rock\’s comments about Cody Rhodes come as a relief to fans of his popular heel run of 2024, many of whom took issue with Rock and Rhodes being fine with each other on Raw. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on The Rock, as despite what was said during the red brand\’s debut on Netflix, the Brahma Bull may not be finished with the American Nightmare after all.
John Cena explores what it truly means to be invisible in McDonald’s latest ad. The commercial humorously reflects on Cena’s iconic catchphrase, which has since become a meme, with fans pretending not to be able to see him in photos.
In the ad, Cena acknowledges the enduring joke, admitting that it “has gone too far” as he jokes about being “invisible for 20 years now.” While he initially found the meme amusing, the ad concludes with a reflective Cena stating, “I’m invisible.” The unique commercial for McDonald’s McValue range showcases Cena’s acting range, balancing humor and seriousness effortlessly.
Though fans may “not see” Cena in the ad, the WWE legend will be impossible to miss in 2025. On this week’s Raw, Cena launched his farewell tour by officially entering the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match. A victory in the 30-man contest would make Cena only the second wrestler in history, alongside ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, to win the Rumble three times. It would also guarantee him a World Championship match at WrestleMania 41.
Both in and out of the ring, John Cena remains a towering figure in entertainment so it\’s no surprise that McDonald’s wanted to collaborate with the 16-time World Champion. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest updates as Cena embarks on what promises to be an emotional farewell tour.
Sheamus shocked the wrestling world by capturing the WWE Championship in late 2009, but the Celtic Warrior wasn\’t the promotion\’s only option for Raw\’s top spot. Speaking on the Insightpodcast, Sheamus revealed the surprising name who could have taken his place.
\”I went with John, and we had a couple of matches on a European tour… There was a throw up between me or [Jack] Swagger to go with.\”
Sheamus’ meteoric rise culminated in winning the WWE Championship in a Tables Match against John Cena at WWE TLC, just 166 days after his televised debut. This rapid ascent marked the third-shortest time a wrestler had gone from debut to World Champion, trailing only Ric Flair in 1992 and Brock Lesnar in 2002.
Jack Swagger, meanwhile, would not capture a world title until 2010, when he won the World Heavyweight Championship by cashing in Money in the Bank. Swagger\’s reign was brief, and he never regained the same level of success in WWE before his release in 2017.
Today, Sheamus remains a dominant force in the ring, focused on winning the Intercontinental Championship—the only title he needs to achieve Grand Slam status. Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates on Sheamus, who continues to show no signs of slowing down.
The frosty reception Hulk Hogan received at WWE Raw\’s debut on Netflix is hardly the first time those at a WWE event have booed the Hall of Famer. Taking to X, former WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin shared that whenever Hulk Hogan impressions sprouted during commercial breaks, those at WWE shows made their views clear on the Hulkster.
In the commercial breaks we would sometimes do a “Hulk Up Cam”…. and let me tell you something brother- they would be booing lol
Hogan appeared to promote his Real American Beer, the official beer sponsor of Raw and WWE programming moving forward. Despite speaking about his passion for WWE and the fans, those inside Los Angeles\’ Intuit Dome had no love for the controversial two-time WWE Hall of Famer.
Hogan\’s name has been linked to controversy for years, with several wrestlers accusing him of politicking and hurting the careers of others for his own gain. In 2015, Hogan was fired from WWE after racist comments surfaced in a leaked video. In the footage, Hogan expressed opposition to his daughter dating Black men, repeatedly used a racial slur, and admitted to being “a racist, to a point.”
More recently, Hogan faced backlash for his ties to Donald Trump. In 2024, the wrestler sparked controversy by making ‘jokes’ about using wrestling moves on Kamala Harris. Hogan later attributed the comments to being under the influence of his Real American Beer, stating it was “the beer talking.”
Hogan has been promoting this month\’s Saturday Night\’s Main Event, after being completely committed from last month\’s event. With the January 25, event coming to Texas, a state that endorsed the President-Elect, it remains to be seen what kind of response the Hulkster will receive.
Paul \’Triple H\’ Levesque isn\’t shying away from what WWE represents in its new era, after the promotion first-ever Raw as part of Netflix. Before the historic episode, WWE debuted a cold open video package featuring Levesque using insider wrestling terminology such as \”shoot,\” \”face,\” and \”heel.\”
The use of these terms sparked a debate online with fans both for and against using insider lingo. On the post-show media scrum, Levesque reflected on the reaction to his verbiage.
\”The reaction seems like we did a good job with it. That was the intent, to capture the emotion and let people know, we\’re not hiding what we do.\”
Levesque has no intention of \”insulting anybody\’s intelligence\” by perpetuating the notion that professional wrestling is a completely legitimate sport. Under his leadership, WWE is embracing its identity as an \”art form\” designed to resonate with both loyal fans and newcomers.
\”It was all part of trying to capture that and say, \’If you\’ve watched, watch this and hopefully we honor what you love. If you\’ve never watched this, watch this, we\’ll explain to you what we are.\’\”
These terms had previously been banned by Vince McMahon, and their inclusion further demonstrates that WWE has moved on from its previous head. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WWE\’s new era, an era that will be more honest about the inner workings of the wrestling business.
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