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AEW Original No Longer Under Contract

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Stu Grayson’s time with AEW might have come to an end.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that Stu’s contract with AEW is up and the two sides haven’t struck a new deal at this time. There is no word on whether or not talks are completely done between the two sides.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful has also been trying to get the final word on Grayson’s status with AEW.

It’s interesting to note that more recently, we’ve seen the likes of Joey Janela, Marko Stunt, and Jack Evans not have their contracts renewed by AEW. They are free to sign elsewhere.

Grayson’s profile has been removed from the AEW roster page. It seems to be AEW’s policy to try to avoid releasing talent and instead just let those contracts expire.

SEScoops will keep you updated on the status of Stu Grayson as more details become available.

WWE Raw Reactions (5/2/22): Getting Red Ep. 3

Michael Reichlin
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Steve Fall is back for Episode 3 of Getting Red, recapping the May 2, 2022 edition of WWE Raw in a strange and unique way.

Steve and his guest Stephanie Hypes run down the Good, the Bad and the What The Heck?! moments from this week’s Raw.

Plus, we name the MVE: Most Valuable Entertainer.

Check out the show below, Subscribe to the SEScoops YouTube Channel and be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you think.

The Miz Wants To Play Johnny Cage In Mortal Kombat Movie

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Miz is one of the most successful pro wrestlers of the current era. Apart from a couple of world title reigns, he has won over a dozen other championships in WWE and has been a featured TV star for over a decade. Though even after all his success, he is not short on goals. The things he wants to do in the future range from being the best father he can be to playing Booster Gold in a DC movie.

The former world champion recently appeared on Out of Character. He discussed how he wants to continue pursuing his dreams so he can be a role model for his daughters. When asked what are the goals he wants to achieve, The Miz first mentioned that he wants to give more time to his family:

“Be the biggest superstar I [can] possibly be. Best dad you can possibly be. Best husband I could possibly be. You know, I’d love to give more time to my family. I have dedicated 20 years to WWE. This isn’t like a retirement speech.” said The Miz, “This isn’t me saying I wanna work less.

I just wanna be able to manage and balance my life a little better. To make sure that I focus on what’s truly, truly important. Those are those two little girls that I want to help mould and guide and learn and be there for. That’s one thing.  Also, I would love to get into movies, voiceovers, TV.”

The Miz Wants To Play Johnny Cage And Boster Gold

The A-Lister mentioned that he has a production company with his wife Maryse. He revealed that after the success of Miz & Mrs, they are developing three more shows. He then noted how fans want him to play Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat. The Miz said that he is ready for it:

“Hell, I wanna play Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat baby. Are you kidding me? Like I have been working on my splits, I’ve been working on my kicks. As soon as I saw that Mortal Kombat was out, and there was no Johnny Cage yet. My name was literally trending worldwide, Number one as ‘we want The Miz as Johnny Cage.’

I was like, ‘If they want that to happen. I need to basically make sure that I am prepared and ready that if that opportunity presents itself. Then I will be ready and focused.’ So I called my trainer that helped me with Marine 6. Working on kicks and everything. I was like, ‘how do you do his intro kicks? I need to learn these and have them properly done.’ I need them left-handed and right-handed because Johnny can do both.

“Also Booster Gold. like I know there’s a Blue Beetle movie coming out. I don’t know if Booster Gold is even a part of it, but I would love to play that character in the DC realm.”

More Originals From SEScoops:

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

The Miz Opens Up About Getting Vasectomy

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Miz has been pretty open about getting a vasectomy. According to him, it was a way to make sure that he can continue pursuing his dreams and be a role model for his daughters to do the same.

The A-Lister recently talked about his decision on Out Of Character. He noted how he wanted to make sure that he can focus on being the best father. The former WWE champion also detailed the conversation he had with Maryse about it

“Going back to the vasectomy. I was like you know what, I want to make sure I can focus on my two loves, my daughters Monroe and Madison and be the best husband I can be. But I also want to pursue my dreams. A lot of times when you become a parent, you forget about the things that you want to do because everything is invested in them.” said The Miz, “Granted, everything IS invested in them. But I still want them to see me going after what I want. Because I want them to go after what they want. I want to be an example for them.

So My wife and I were like ‘Alright, we’re done’. I am like ‘Alright, so who’s doing it?’ It was a conversation like ‘Alright who is doing it?’ I was like, ‘you know what, I’ll bite the bullet. You shoved these suckers out of you twice so I think can do the deed.'”

You can check out The Miz’s interview below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

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

Xavier Woods Welcomes Fans Back To UpUpDownDown

Anutosh Bajpai
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Xavier Woods has pressed the restart button on UpUpDownDown.

The YouTube gaming channel of the WWE star had been barely active in the last few months. Though it appears that things are going to change soon.

The New Day star posted a video message on the channel on Monday afternoon. He welcomed the fans back with a majestic promo.

The video package saw Xavier Woods discussing the highs and lows of UpUpDownDown. It featured images of stars such as Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Big E, and more.

Behind The Scene Issues At UpUpDownDown

The gaming channel became inactive in November last year, after the creators stopped working in a show of solidarity with Woods.

The people who worked on the channel believed that the New Day member was being taken advantage of. They wanted WWE to give him a better deal.

The channel had mostly been inactive since then. The only content posted on UpUpDownDown in recent months was related to WWE 2K22.

Back in April WWE officials held a meeting. They confirmed that talents will now be additionally compensated for all revenue they generate through third-party sites.

This latest video from Woods suggests that he may have gotten a new deal too, that will help him be paid more fairly for his work on the channel.

Booker T Says His WWE Contract Isn’t Up For Years

Anutosh Bajpai
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Booker T has been with WWE for a long time and the WWE Hall Of Famer has confirmed that he is not going away anytime soon.

The wrestling veteran recently had an interview with Culture Map in Houston. He talked about things such as talents from his wrestling school being picked up by major promotions and more.

Speaking of his relationship and future with WWE, T said that his relationship has ‘never been better.’ He claimed that his contract with them isn’t up for several years:

“My relationship with the company has never been better. My contract with them isn’t up for another several years. I’m still around doing the kickoff shows for all the premium events on Peacock.

I sometimes host RAW Talk and Talking Smack” mentioned Booker T, “And WWE has me involved with several other projects,”

At the age of 57, the former WCW champion is still active in wrestling. While he hasn’t wrestled for WWE since 2012, he regularly competes in his own Reality Of Wrestling promotion.

Talking about potential retirement, Booker T claimed that he will never be done wrestling. He said “I won’t be retired from the squared circle until I’m six feet under,”

Jeff Jarrett Escorted Out Of AAA Show Due To Threat From Crowd

Anutosh Bajpai
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WWE Hall Of Famer Jeff Jarrett alongside his wife Karen Jarrett apparently had to be escorted out of this past weekend’s AAA TripleMania event from Monterrey, Mexico.

The PPV event featured a segment where AAA owner Dorian Roldan came out to present a plaque to Monterrey native Latin Lover.

Lover was interrupted by Jarrett, his wife, and Rey Escorpion when he tried to cut a promo. Jeff teased the crowd and even got into the face of Marisela Peña who was seated at ringside.

The WWE Hall Of Famer went on to insult the fans. When Latin Lover took off his jacket, the wrestling veteran called him a “dirty, filthy, grimy Mexican”

Escorpion then took down Lover before Vampiro made his return. Vampiro cleaned the house after a brawl and stood tall as the heels retreated.

The promo cut by Jeff Jarrett seems to have upset the fans. Lucha Libre Online is reporting that he had to be escorted out of the arena by eight security guards for his safety.

Officials from the promotion apparently confiscated tortillas Jarrett planned to throw in the crowd. He was then provided additional security at his hotel due to overzealous fans.

There is no word yet on if Jarrett will be back in AAA anytime soon. Though after his latest promo work it’s likely that they will keep him away from shows for at least a while.

Update On Mark Briscoe’s Wife Following Hospital Scare

Andrew Ravens
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Mark Briscoe has shared some positive news regarding his pregnant wife days after pulling out of his bookings with his brother Jay over the weekend. 

Jay had revealed on Saturday that Mark’s pregnant wife was rushed to the hospital earlier in the day and doctors were trying to prevent a premature birth. At the time, he stated that both the wife and the unborn child are stable.

Mark updated fans by writing on Twitter: “Momma is home and baby is still in the oven!! Thank you all for your prayers and positivity.”

The Briscoes were pulled off Saturday’s GCW In Too Deep and Sunday’s PWG Delivering The Goods events due to the medical emergency. 

At the GCW event, they were set to face GCW Tag Team Champions BUSSY (Allie Katch & Effy) and the Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner & Matthew Justice) in a three-way match. At PWG, they were slated to take on Aussie Open.

The Briscoes made their TV return to Impact Wrestling this past Thursday night where they beat Heath and Rhino to earn a shot at Tag Team Champions Violent by Design at Saturday’s Under Siege. 

Becky Lynch Warns Her Fans About Scammers

Andrew Ravens
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Becky Lynch has sent out a warning to fans regarding fake accounts asking people for money while pretending to be celebrities. Lynch wrote the following: 

“It should go without saying, but I, or any other WWE superstar, Would not ever message any fan looking for money or gift cards.

Please, if anyone ever messages you, pretending to be me, asking for money, or anything else, immediately block and report. The amount of times I have heard of this happening is sickening.”

This is happening too often with some notable examples including a fan losing his home because he believed that WWE star Liv Morgan needed help. Another fan attacked Seth Rollins at a live event because he was duped by a fake account.

Lynch dropped the WWE Raw Women’s Title to Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 38 and took a few weeks off from appearing on television while continuing to work live events. 

Lynch returned last week on Raw where she was interrupted by the returning Asuka. She doesn’t have a match lined up for WrestleMania Backlash just yet. 

WWE RAW Results (5/2/22): Cody Rhodes & Seth Rollins, The Bloodline Appear, RK-Bro

Robert Lentini
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WWE RAW aired live from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was the final episode of RAW before WrestleMania Backlash this weekend. The Bloodline appeared on tonight’s show ahead of their 6-man tag team match against RAW Tag Team Champions RK-Bro & Drew McIntyre this weekend at WrestleMania Backlash.

RAW Results

  • Alpha Academy & Kevin Owens def. Street Profits & Ezekiel
  • Veer Mahaan def. Bert Hansen
  • AJ Styles def. Damian Priest (Damian Priest is barred from ringside at WrestleMania Backlash
  • Miz & Theory def. Mustafi Ali in a Championship Contenders Handicap Match
  • Dana Brooke def. Nikki A.S.H. to become the new 24/7 Champion
  • Lashley def. Cedric Alexander via submission
  • Liv Morgan, Asuka, Bianca Belair def. Sonya Deville, Becky Lynch, Rhea Ripley

Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:

Drew McIntyre & RK-Bro Attacked The Bloodline

Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos kicked off this week’s episode of RAW. Paul Heyman accompanied The Bloodline to the ring.

Heyman suggested the crowd stand on their feet because they get the change to revel in the greatness of their Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Paul handed the microphone to Reigns as the crowd broke out in a “Roman!” chant. Reigns asked the crowd to acknowledge him and they cheered. RK-Bro showed up out of nowhere and planted The Usos with a couple of RKOs. Drew McIntyre’s music hit and the Scottish Warrior made his way to the ring with Angela the sword.

McIntyre dropped the sword before getting into the ring as RK-Bro exited. Drew and Reigns circled each other and talked some trash. McIntyre drove Reigns to the corner but the champ escaped and unloaded some clubs to the chest. McIntyre shrugged them off and beat Roman down until The Usos broke it up. RK-Bro got back into the ring and the brawl continued until WWE security rushed down the entrance ramp as RAW went to a break.

Kevin Owens & Alpha Academy def. Ezekiel & Street Profits

Kevin Owens and Alpha Academy (Chad Gable & OTis faced Ezekiel and Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins). Gable and Dawkins started off the action and Angelo connected with a clothesline. Montez Ford tagged in and slammed Gable to the mat for a two count.

Gable battled back and applied a submission hold in the middle of the ring. When RAW returned from a break. Kevin Owens tagged in and hit Ford with a Senton. Owens followed it up with a Moonsault for a near fall. Montez connected with an Enziguri and both superstars fell to the canvas.

Ezekiel tagged in and leveled Gable with a Clothesline and followed it up with a Spinebuster. Otis got into the ring but Ezekiel sent him to the outside. Ezekiel hit Gable with a Dropkick and then a Splash. Ezekiel connected with a Suplex and went for the cover but Otis broke it up at two.

Otis sent Montez Ford out of the ring but turned around into a Dropkick from Dawkins. Owens hit Dawkins with a Superkick and then Ezekiel knocked him out of the ring. Gable went for a German Supex but Ezekiel escaped. Owens tripped Ezekiel up and Gable rolled him up for the win.

Veer Mahaan Dominated

Veer Mahaan faced a local competitor named Bert Hansen tonight on RAW. Before the match, Byron. Saxton asked why he would agree to this match and the man said he’s been dreaming about this moment. Mahaan promptly launched him across the ring and hit him with a series of knee strikes. Mahaan hit a big Clothesline and applied the Camel Clutch for the submission victory.

Damian Priest Is Barred From Ringside At WrestleMania Backlash

AJ Styles was interviewed backstage ahead of his match against Damian Priest tonight. Styles said that Priest distracted him at WrestleMania and cost him his match against Edge. AJ announced that if he beats Damian Priest tonight, he is barred from ringside in his match against Edge at WrestleMania Backlash.

Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville had a conversation about “upper management” looking into Sonya Deville’s abuse of power. Pearce announced that Sonya Deville, Rhea Ripley, and Becky Lynch will face Asuka, Liv Morgan, and Bianca Belair in a 6-woman tag team match. Pearce added that Deville is simply a WWE superstar tonight without any executive power.

AJ Styles faced Damian Priest to begin the 2nd hour of RAW and Edge was ringside for the match. Edge and AJ Styles are set to clash once again this Sunday at WrestleMania Backlash.

Before the match, Edge said “we are Judgement Day” and claimed that most of the crowd can’t stand to look at themselves in the mirror and probably do not like him anymore. Edge mocked the crowd and claimed it was a miracle that they could actually find their seats tonight. He joked that the people in Greensboro have very few teeth and turned his attention to AJ Styles.

Edge claimed that AJ’s heart outweighs his brain and by not staying at home with his family, he is rushing headlong into pain and judgement at WrestleMania Backlash. Edge started shouting at the crowd to get them riled up before AJ Styles interrupted and made his way to the ring for the singles match.

Damian dominated the action early and beat Styles down in the corner as Edge laughed. Priest hit a Falcon Arrow before applying a submission hold in the middle of the ring. AJ escaped and tackled Damian to the outside. Styles hit a Phenomenal Forearm and rolled Damian back into the ring. Priest rolled back out of the ring and Styles followed him out there. Damian sent Styles flying into the ring post as RAW went to a break.

When RAW returned, AJ Styles looked to have the match won but Edge attacked him to end the match in a DQ. Styles was awarded the win and Damian Priest is barred from ringside at WrestleMania Backlash. Judgement Day attacked Styles with steel chairs after the match but Finn Balor rushed the ring to even the odds. Judgement Day retreated to end the segment.

Miz & Theory def. Mustafa Ali

The Miz welcomed Mustafa Ali on Miz TV tonight. Ali defeated Miz on RAW last week via a roll-up. Miz poked fun at Ali for trying to quit WWE and Mustafa shot back that everyone is tired of Miz still working here. United States Champion Theory interrupted and this led to a Handicap match. If Mustafa won the match, he would get a shot at the United States Championship.

Ali and Miz started off the action and Mustafa hit a Clothesline. Theory bent back the ropes and Ali hurled himself through them and to the floor for some reason. Theory tripped him up and Miz hit the Skull Crushing Finale for the pinfall victory. Theory posed with the title over Ali and left the ring. Ciampa then attacked Mustafa Ali after the match.

Dana Brooke Won The 24/7 Championship

Nikki A.S.H. defended the 24/7 Championship against Dana Brooke tonight on RAW. Dana won the title match and then Reggie tried to pin her. An angry Dana Brooke shouted that she wanted a divorce to end the riveting segment.

Cody Rhodes Sent A Message To Rollins Ahead Of Their Rematch

Seth Rollins came to the ring and asked for a spotlight and a standing ovation from the crowd. Rollins blamed Cody for trying to steal his spotlight and claimed that the crowd has forgotten just how good he is. Cody Rhodes interrupted to a great reaction and joined Seth in the ring.

Rollins shouted that this is his appreciation night and Cody congratulated Seth. Cody said he’s been nothing but professional and a gentleman since his return and told Seth that he is one of the best superstars of the last 20 years. Rhodes added that Rollins is delusional and Seth laughed in his face.

Seth said that was rich coming from Cody and brought up Dusty Rhodes. Rollins called Dusty an egomaniac and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Rollins claimed that Dusty wasn’t good enough to be WWE Champion and Cody won’t be good enough either as long as he is here. Rollins then attacked Cody but Rhodes battled back. Cody planted Rollins with a Cutter and Seth retreated. Cody Rhodes will battle Seth Rollins at WrestleMania Backlash in six days.

Lashley def. Cedric Alexander

Cedric Alexander approached MVP and Omos backstage during RAW. Alexander said he asked for a match against Lashley to get MVP’s attention. MVP and Omos interrupted and MVP started cutting a promo on Lashley during the match. MVP asked Lashley what he’s going to do when Omos gets his hand on him at WrestleMania Backlash. Lashley battled back and sent Cedric into the ring post. Lashley followed it up with a Spear and then the Hurt Lock for the submission victory.

Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair, Asuka Picked Up A Win

RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, Asuka, and Liv Morgan battled Sonya Deville, Becky Lynch and Rhea Ripley in the main event. Before the match, Doudrop made a rare appearance and comforted Nikki ASH after losing the 24/7 title. Doudrop asked if Nikki was done playing games and she said she was ready to get serious.

Asuka and Becky Lynch started off the action. Asuka went for a kick but Becky ducked and retreated to the corner. Sonya Deville tagged in and Asuka tagged in the RAW Women’s Champion. Deville scampered away and back to the corner. Rhea Ripley tagged in and she slammed Belair to the mat.

Sonya tagged back in and tried to take advantage but Belair popped up and delivered a Dropkick to Deville. Liv Morgan tagged in and hit Deville with a Splash in the corner. Deville connected with a Clothesline and Becky Lynch tagged in.

Liv climbed to the middle turnbuckle and hit a Dropkick of her own for a near fall. Liv leaped through the ropes and took out Ripley with a dive. Becky then caught Liv with a Dropkick through the ropes and rolled her back into the ring. Becky climbed to the top rope and hit a Leg Drop for a near fall as RAW went to the final commercial break of the night.

When RAW returned, Becky Lynch and Liv both were down as their teammates pleaded for a tag. Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair tagged in and traded punches. Bianca hit a shoulder tackle and followed it up with a big Suplex. Rhea and Deville brought Bianca up to the top rope and connected with a Suplerplex.

Asuka tagged in and hit Deville with a shoulder tackle. Asuka hit a Hip Attack and then booted Ripley in the face. Asuka connected with a release German Suplex and then a Shining Wizard on Sonya for a near fall. Asuka hit a Hip Attack that sent Deville into a Codebreaker from Liv Morgan outside the ring.

Belair planted Rhea with a Spinebuster but Sonya threw her out of the ring. Liv went for a roll-up but Deville kicked out. Sonya kneed Liv in the face for a close two count. Deville rolled Liv up but used the ropes for leverage and the referee caught her. Sonya got distracted by Belair and Liv hit her with Oblivion for the pinfall victory. Liv Morgan, Asuka, and RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair celebrated to close the show.

Vice TV Says Dark Side of the Ring Ain’t Dead Yet

Andrew Ravens
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Vice TV has publicly commented on the future of its “Dark Side of the Ring” series and a potential fourth season in a statement issued on Monday afternoon following wild speculation that the series has been canceled. 

The series, created by Evan Husney and Jason Eisener, is centered around some of the darkest chapters in the pro wrestling business. 

Dave Meltzer previously reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Husney and Eisener’s next project will involve them teaming up with Dwayne Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions for a new series centering around the territory era of pro wrestling in the United States with the format like WWE’s Table for 3. 

Meltzer stated the Dark Side of the Ring series had not been renewed yet for a fourth season, which caused fans to think it was officially canceled. That is not the case for now as Vice issued the following statement today: 

“We’ve heard some rumors flying around about Season 4 of Dark Side of the Ring. We are as committed as ever to both the series and the broader Dark Side franchise.  Evan and Jason are hard at work making more content that we know our fans of the series will love. Stay tuned.”

The latest season featured controversy due to the Plane Ride From Hell episode in addition to Tommy Dreamer, RVD, and Jim Ross accusing the series of falsely editing their comments.

During that episode, Ric Flair was accused of taking his clothes off and forcing himself on a flight attendant (Heidi Doyle). Dreamer defended Ric Flair’s behavior towards the flight attendant on the trip and was indefinitely suspended by Impact Wrestling as a result. The former ECW star later issued an apology regarding his comments and was brought back to Impact last December. 

Drew McIntyre: ‘My Dream Scenario Is Fighting Roman Reigns At WWE Clash At The Castle’

Andrew Ravens
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Drew McIntyre is looking forward to winning the WWE Title in front of an actual crowd and looks at WWE Clash At The Castle inside Principality Stadium as the perfect place to do it. 

McIntyre won the WWE Title from Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36 in 2020 in an empty Performance Center. WWE presents Clash at the Castle from the UK on September 3rd.

While speaking with Sports Illustrated, McIntyre noted his dream scenario is to defeat Roman Reigns at that event to become the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

“I’m a two-time WWE champion, but I never won the title in front of our fans,” McIntyre says. “My dream situation is fighting for the title against Roman at the UK show. There is going to be such intense anticipation for that event. That would be a match, atmosphere-wise, that people would always remember.”

Another possible match for him is to face Tyson Fury as WWE previously had plans for them to headline a UK stadium show in 2020. That got nixed due to the pandemic. 

“If Tyson Fury steps back into the WWE ring, it’s not going to be as easy as he thinks,” McIntyre says. “He showed last time in his match against Braun that he’s capable. No doubt, he’s an entertainer. But if he steps into the ring against me, he’s in for something he’s never experienced before.”

McIntyre and Reigns will be across the ring from one in the main event of WrestleMania Backlash as McIntyre teams with Randy Orton, and Matt Riddle against Reigns and The Usos.

John Cena Has Entered Into New Business Venture

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

John Cena is getting into the cocktail business.

The Thomas Ashbourne brand is set to roll out a slew of ready-to-drink cocktails. The brand has aligned with celebrities in order to help with the promotion of the products. Cena is one of them.

John Cena Partners With Thomas Ashbourne Brand

  • John Cena Thomas Ashbourne
    (via Thomas Ashbourne)

Each cocktail is attached to a celebrity. John Cena is tasked with pushing the old-fashioned drink.

Here’s what Thomas Ashbourne CEO Cara Kamenev had to say about the cocktail endeavor (via Bloomberg).

“These are not influencer deals, and these are not promotional or pay-for-post or anything like that. It was important to us that everyone came at it with an ownership mentality.”

Cena also chimed in, saying he’s learned quite a bit from conversations with the movers and shakers at Thomas Ashbourne.

“I got a lot of my business education after the events, being able to sit with the people I’ve watched and admired and we’ve shared beer and bourbon and a bunch of stories. That actually brought me here.”

Cena joins the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Rosario Dawson, Ashley Benson, Vanessa Hudgens, and Playboi Carti in the list of celebrities co-founding the cocktail drinks.

Over the past few years, Cena has turned his attention more towards Hollywood. Cena last wrestled back in Aug. 2021 for the WWE SummerSlam main event. He was pinned by Roman Reigns.

Roderick Strong Has Requested His WWE Release

Andrew Ravens
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Roderick Strong wants out of WWE as he has asked for his release “multiple times” over the last several months. Fightful Select reported the news today. 

Per the report, Strong has grown frustrated with many things over the past year within the company. Despite his request, WWE has denied it. 

Strong was also pitched a name change, which he was against. There were many within the company that was surprised that Strong was not included in last week’s cuts as he made it clear he wanted to be let go. 

Strong has remained professional in his handling of creative week-to-week. It was added that WWE currently has no plans to release Strong and says he factors into their creative plan.

Strong is the last member of the Undisputed Era that remains with WWE as Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish are all in a stable in AEW. He was put in the  Diamond Mine stable last year. The original idea for the group was for it to feature Stong, Tyler Rust, Arturo Ruas, Malcolm Bivens, Hideki Suzuki, and his wife Marina Shafir. 

Less than a year later, all of the members except for Strong remain with WWE. Prior to the group forming, Strong re-signed with WWE shortly before that.

Reactions to Roderick Strong Requesting His Release

https://twitter.com/davidbix/status/1521223633540108289

MLW Boss Confirms “Deep Talks” With a Cable or Streaming Partner

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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0

MLW could be on the verge of a new deal through a cable or streaming partner.

It’s no secret that MLW has been looking to make a splash with a big broadcast deal. The search was seemingly over as they were set to enter a lucrative deal with Tubi, which is a streaming service owned by FOX.

MLW has filed an antitrust lawsuit against WWE, alleging the promotion halted the deal with Tubi. FOX has a deal with WWE, allowing them to air SmackDown every Friday night.

While that case is ongoing, MLW’s Court Bauer appeared on Busted Open Radio to confirm that there have been serious talks with another cable or streaming partner (via Putting You Over).

“I can confirm that we are in deep talks with a possible player either in cable or in streaming. I can’t say anything else, I’ll get into trouble but we’ve been working on something for a bit.”

MLW has been the home of some great talent including MJF, who left the promotion in favor of a full-time deal with AEW. Max last appeared for MLW back in Jan. 2020.

Today, MLW features talent such as the promotion’s current heavyweight champion Alex Hammerstone, Jacob Fatu, and Richard Holliday.

Ricochet Says NXT Is Home, Would Love To Go Back

Rayan Sayyed
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Ricochet wants to go back to WWE NXT. The former black-and-yellow brand has seen an influx of main roster WWE stars. Names like AJ Styles and Natalya have appeared on the brand and Ricochet says he wants to do the same.

Ricochet signed with WWE in 2018 and would go on to become the NXT North American Champion in the same year. He started appearing on both the main roster brands Raw and SmackDown Live in early 2019. He teamed up with Aleister Black to win the fourth annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

After WrestleMania 35, Ricochet moved to the main roster and won the United States and the Intercontinental titles. He is the current IC Champion in his first reign.

In a recent interview with Cultaholic, Ricochet said that he is open to an NXT return. He mentioned AJ Styles and Natalya appearing on the show who seem to be having a great time there. Ricochet also mentioned Carmelo Hayes. They both have heat with each other as they have taken shots at each other on social media.

Answering the question of whether he would like to go back to NXT, Ricochet said, “AJ went back and now Nattie’s down there and all these guys are going back down there and it seems like they’re having a great time. Me and Carmelo [Hayes] had a thing. If Carmelo wants the heat, he can have it but whoever it is I would love to go down there. That’s always been a home of mine so, any time.”

A while ago, Ricochet sent out a friendly reminder for rude fans. He sent a stern message to fans telling them that he would send fans away if they bother him to get multiple things signed at the wrong time, like 4 am in the morning at a hotel, for example.

The Miz Names One WWE Superstar Whose Character Is A “Money Maker”

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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The Miz has one WWE superstar in mind who he believes has money written all over him.

If there’s one thing The Miz knows about, it’s longevity under Vince McMahon’s empire. Miz has been on the WWE main roster since 2006. Along the way, he became a two-time WWE Champion and headlined WrestleMania 27.

Miz has seen many come and go over the years and he’s impressed by the growth of one performer in particular.

The Miz Has High Hopes For Chad Gable

  • Chad Gable
    (via WWE)

Miz was a guest on the Out of Character podcast with Ryan Satin. During the show, “The A-Lister” reflected on Chad Gable’s road to his current character.

“Chad Gable first came in with Jason Jordan, right? Amazing tag team, incredible. Didn’t click, like didn’t get to the upper echelons but won things and did stuff and was in there.

“Then they took him and said, ‘Alright, you’re gonna be a singles competitor, you’re gonna be Shorty G.’ And everyone was like, ‘What?! What?!’ Honestly, sometimes it’s just to see like, ‘I see something in you, let’s see if we can get something out of you. Let’s see if we can find something that’s different than everybody else.’

“Most times the fans or the critics will be like, ‘Why are they doing this? This guy went to the Olympics.’ We’re just trying to find something here. In my mind, that’s what they’re doing. So, then he did, he took it and I thought he did exceptional at it. He didn’t get to the upper echelons or whatever but he took that character and made something out of it.”

Miz said that Gable has finally found what works for him and he sees a lot of green for the leader of the Alpha Academy.

“Now you look at Chad Gable, guess what? He found his voice, he found his character and now you look at him and you go, ‘Oh wow, this is a money maker. This character is a money maker.'”

Please H/T SEScoops if you use any quotes from this article.

WWE Management High on Nikkita Lyons (Report)

Jon Fuentes
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WWE reportedly sees a lot of potential in NXT star Nikkita Lyons.

Lyons signed with WWE last year before making her NXT debut in February. Since, she’s been a regular feature on NXT 2.0. When Lyons isn’t wrestling in the ring, she’s also featured in video packages or backstage segments.

She tends to get big reactions from the crowds at the Capitol Wrestling Center, and has also generated some buzz on social media. Recently, Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer discussed Lyons during an episode of Sunday Night’s Main Event podcast. Meltzer said WWE management sees big potential in Lyons.

While WWE likes the reactions she’s getting, Meltzer doesn’t believe they’ll fast-track her the way the likes of Bron Breakker or Gable Steveson likely will to the main roster.

He also added that he’s not even sure WWE knew how over she’d be at first. Another telling sign about how WWE feels in regards to Lyons is that she’s working with Natalya. Natalya currently works with young talent in NXT to help them improve their in-ring work.

It will be interesting to see how much working with Natalya will help Lyons improve in regards to her in-ring work over time. If she continues to get big reactions in NXT, it will also be interesting to see if WWE decides to ultimately fast-track her to the main roster.

MJF: If Vince Shells Out The Money, I’ll Join WWE

Jon Fuentes
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If WWE shows MJF the money, he’ll be more than happy to leave All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) has established himself as one of AEW’s top heels over the course of the past three years. The 26-year-old began making a name for himself during his early days in the business, working for promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) and Major League Wrestling (MLW).

He eventually signed with AEW in January of 2019 and has been a huge part of the promotion ever since. However, MJF has been very open about his contract with AEW being set to expire in 2024, and WWE reportedly has interest. MJF discussed the matter further during the “For The Love Of Wrestling” convention in Liverpool recently.

In regards to potentially signing with WWE, MJF said that, if Vince McMahon is willing to shell out the cash, he’ll be more than happy to depart from AEW.

“I don’t know if you guys are aware of this, but on January 1st of 2024, I’m going to be a free agent,” MJF said. “Who here would want to see me in WWE? So let me explain something to you people — I did not get into this business to make any of you happy.

“I got into this business to make as much money as humanly possible. And if Vincent Kennedy McMahon is willing to shell out more money than my good friend Tony Khan, then yes, I would go to WWE.”

Recently, there have been many WWE stars who have departed to join AEW. Its been very rare that an AEW talent leaves for WWE instead. In fact, the only notable name to have done so is Cody Rhodes, who returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 earlier this year after his AEW contract expired.

Perhaps MJF will follow in Rhodes’ footsteps come January of 2024 when his own WWE deal is up.

Quotes via Wrestling Inc.

Reason WWE Is Holding Off Major Roman Reigns Match

Anutosh Bajpai
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Fans have been waiting for a singles match between The Undisputed World champion Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre since the Scottish Warrior moved to the SmackDown roster in October last year.

These expectations were once again met with disappointment when the company announced a six men tag team match for WrestleMania Backlash main event.

Dave Meltzer provided some updates on this feud during the latest Wrestling Observer Radio. He revealed that WWE is holding off a singles match between McIntyre and Reigns for a bigger event.

WWE is set to hold not one but three major Stadium shows in the span of three months starting from July. The first one will be Money In The Bank from Allegiant Stadium.

This will be followed by the SummerSlam PPV from Nissan Stadium and the Clash Of The Castle special from United Kingdom.

Officials consider Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns to be a dream match. It’s likely that their singles encounter will be saved for one of these shows.

There is no word yet on what the company is planning for the unified titles. We will have to see if this match ends up being for only one of the world titles or both of them when the time comes.

Mick Foley Has a Great Response to Undertaker’s HOF Speech Omission

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Mick Foley isn’t bothered by The Undertaker not mentioning him during his Hall of Fame speech.

When people talk about The Undertaker’s greatest rivals, a popular choice is Foley. Longtime fans may remember the time Foley, who once played the role of Mankind, got Paul Bearer to turn on Undertaker in 1996.

Of course, you can’t discuss the Foley-Undertaker feud without bringing up the 1998 Hell in a Cell match between the two. Foley was thrown off the cell onto the announce table and Undertaker legitimately thought he had killed him.

Foley was also chokeslammed through the roof and into the ring. When he landed, a steel chair bounced and hit him in the mouth, knocking out a tooth. To top that off, Foley also went through some thumbtacks in what is still considered to be the most brutal HIAC match.

  • The Undertaker Mankind
    (via WWE)

Mick Foley Doesn’t Feel He Was Snubbed

Serving as a guest on the In The Kliq podcast, Mick Foley explained why he’s the last person who should be crying “snub” (h/t WrestlingNews.co).

“Well, listen, I forgot to mention my wife during my speech, so I’m not one to lecture anybody about who they should and should not include in their speech. I was not there for those formative years. His was more about friendship and support. We had a great rivalry, but he didn’t mention Rock or Austin. So, if I’m not hurt, no one can be hurt on behalf of me.”

Despite the omission, The Undertaker and Foley will forever be linked career-wise. The two had some unforgettable encounters.

Top Matches Set for NJPW Dominion on June 12th

Michael Reichlin
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New Japan Pro Wrestling is gearing up for NJPW Dominion.

Dominion is New Japan’s next big event and its final PPV before AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door.

Top matches signed for the show include:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada vs. Jay White
  • IWGP Never Openweight Champion Tama Tonga vs. Karl Anderson
  • Bad Luck Fale and Chase Owens will defend their newly won IWGP Tag Team championships against the United Empire’s Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan.
  • Shingo Takagi will put the KOPW 2022 trophy on the line against Taichi.

NJPW Dominion 2022 takes place Sunday, June 12th from Osaka, Japan.

For more info on this card, visit NJPW1972.com.

Catch up on the rich history of NJPW Dominion with this video:

Booker T Says Most Fans Won’t Care About AEW Working With NJPW

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Booker T doesn’t believe the “Forbidden Door” event does anything for AEW outside of catering to its existing fanbase.

AEW and NJPW have teamed up to create a joint PPV event, “Forbidden Door.” The event will be held inside the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on June 26. No matches have been announced at this time.

Booker T Not Sold On Forbidden Door Attracting New Fans

Taking to his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T said he doesn’t see the AEW-NJPW crossover show attracting new fans (h/t EWrestlingNews.com).

“I do not think the majority of people here in the United States are clicking to go find Japanese wrestling. I just don’t believe that.”

Booker said he understands that the existing AEW fanbase will enjoy the show but it won’t be making waves outside of that group.

“They’re going to love it, I get that. The AEW fanbase, they’re going to love it,” Booker expressed. “But what I am saying is, outside of the AEW fanbase, there aren’t a whole lot of people are going to look at this like it’s a forbidden door because don’t too many people know about it but the AEW fanbase.”

As of now, no matches have been announced for the “Forbidden Door” show. IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada has squashed speculation that he may not be able to attend the show.

Big AEW names such as Bryan Danielson have also committed to being in action on the show. The Hardys have made it clear that they want to add the IWGP Tag Team Titles to their mantle.

Tetsuya Naito has said that he won’t be calling anyone out and that he’ll let the AEW stars come to him. His status is a bit of a question mark, however, as he’ll be undergoing surgery on his right eye soon. Naito had a quick turnaround for a similar surgery back in 2019.

Theory Hints At SummerSlam Match With John Cena

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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Theory is teasing a SummerSlam showdown with John Cena.

It’s no secret that WWE is pushing Theory as the next big thing. Theory is aligned with Vince McMahon on TV and has been labeled as the WWE Chairman’s new “Chosen One.” Some reports have even claimed that WWE is trying to make Theory the next John Cena.

Theory vs. John Cena At SummerSlam?

Theory recently took to Instagram Stories to drop a big tease regarding a potential match with Cena (h/t The Brass Ring).

https://twitter.com/TheBrassRing1/status/1520890918353711108

Theory is the reigning United States Champion. He captured the gold on the April 18 episode of Raw. He pinned Finn Balor to win his first singles championship in WWE.

WWE seemingly dropped its own hint of a possible collision between Theory and Cena. During the April 25 episode of Raw, Mustafa Ali returned and said he was hoping Theory would have an open challenge for the United States Championship.

During John Cena’s runs with the United States gold back in 2015, he held open challenges with the title on the line. If Theory eventually does the same, then it would be yet another hint.

Theory stoked the flames of a potential rivalry, taking to social media to claim he’s a better U.S. champ than Cena was. Cena responded, warning Theory to not get too big for his britches.

Power Goes Out During Wrestling Show, Fans Use Smartphones For Light (Video)

Fernando Quiles Jr.
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No matter what lengths they have to go through, wrestling fans will be entertained one way or another.

The perfect example of this was a Journey Pro KC show that took place on April 29. At one point, the power inside the building was cut off.

So, what did the crowd do?

Fans in attendance pulled out their smartphones for light and it’s a sight that would make Bray Wyatt proud.

Here are some videos courtesy of Twitter users Patriot Pat, GPA, and Journey Pro KC:

When wrestling promotions book Lights Out matches, this is surely not what they have in mind.

Still, fans made the best out of a less-than-ideal situation and it’s quite the sight. The crowd also seemed to remain hot throughout the show.

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