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AEW Removed From Britt Baker’s Social Media Bios

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Britt Baker was the first woman signed to an AEW talent contract in 2019 and for a while, was the top star of the women’s division. Baker’s days on top are now a distant memory, and her recent social media activity may have teased a bold move.

Baker has removed all references to AEW in her Instagram bio, distancing herself from the All-Elite promotion. On X, Baker’s bio is similarly AEW-free and makes reference to her role as a wrestler and a dentist.

Britt Baker Social Media

Baker’s alterations come amid an interesting time in the DMD’s career. Baker hasn’t competed since November 2024, and has competed just five times over the past year. Baker remains active on social media though rarely makes reference to AEW.

Interestingly, her latest reference to AEW on social media saw her throw support behind Saraya following the British wrestler’s exit from AEW.

Baker’s absence has left fans wondering as to whether her time with AEW may also be coming to an end. In January, Chris Jericho cast doubt on the idea that Baker will leave AEW, following reports of alleged heat on the former Women’s World Champion.

If Baker does end her time with AEW, fans can expect WWE to make an effort to sign Baker who could also see interest from promotions overseas such as STARDOM. Whatever’s next, Britt Baker remains a talking point among wrestling fans, even with her hiatus from AEW growing day-by-day.

Randy Orton Names The Most Important Match of His Career

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Randy Orton has revealed a match he thinks earned him the respect of the fans.

The Viper was a recent guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live with Jelly Roll being the guest host of the show. During the talk, the Singing star asked the former world champion which is the favorite match of his career.

Randy Orton picked his 2004 Backlash match against Mick Foley because it showed fans a side of him which they had never seen before:

“Gosh. You know, I’ve been asked that before and that’s a very hard question because I’ve had a lot of matches, I consider to be like up there as my favorite. But when I was 24 years old, I wrestled Mick Foley at Backlash in a hardcore match.

This is in 2004. That match probably was the most important one in my career, I think, because the fans saw me put myself, put my body through something they had never seen me put my body through before. It was a very physical match.

Lots of blood, lots of sweat, some tears. But I think I earned the fans’ respect that night. From then on, I could tell something was different in the air when I would walk through that curtain.”

The Backlash bout saw Randy Orton defending his IC title against Cactus Jack. Evolution was banned from the ringside so The Legend Killer was on his own.

The brutal bout featured many unnerving moments including one where the Evolution member was thrown into thumb tacks after missing an RKO. The match ended with Orton delivering an RKO to Foley onto a barbed wire baseball bat.

You can check out Randy’s full interview on Jimmy Kimmel including an angle with Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul below:

New Trailer For ‘WWE: Unreal’ Released

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With the premiere date fast approaching, Netflix has released a new trailer for its upcoming docuseries, “WWE: Unreal.” The exclusive look from Entertainment Weekly reveals more details about the show, including that WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Triple H, will serve as the series narrator.

The new trailer features behind-the-scenes footage of top stars such as John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and CM Punk. The five-episode first season, which premieres on July 29, promises an unprecedented look into the WWE creative process and the lives of its superstars.

The series is produced by WWE in partnership with Skydance Sports, NFL Films, and Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions. In the interview with Entertainment Weekly, Triple H explained the motivation behind the project.

“Our business evolves and so do the expectations of our audience,” Triple H said. “When you look at the track records of Omaha Productions and NFL Films, it felt like we had the right partners in place to pull back the curtain and showcase WWE in a brand-new way.”

To promote the series, stars like Rhea Ripley and CM Punk have been making media appearances this week. As previously reported, Punk shared his mixed feelings about the project, stating that due to his “old school” mentality of protecting the business, he finds the concept of letting cameras so far behind the scenes “really strange,” even while understanding its appeal to the fans.

R-Truth Says Fan Backlash To His Release Showed ‘Good In Humanity’

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WWE superstar R-Truth has opened up about his brief departure from the company last month, reflecting on the massive outpouring of support from fans and peers that led to WWE reversing its decision and re-signing him.

In early June, it was announced that WWE had chosen not to renew R-Truth’s contract, which sparked a significant backlash on social media. Speaking on the Toronto Sun’s No Holds Barred podcast, Truth said the experience of seeing everyone come together was what he would remember most.

“The outreach,” Truth responded. “The love. I think it was meant for me and it was meant for everybody, man. Through all social media, [there were] over 100 million reactions of emotions and of unifying on one thing. So if anything, it showed that we all can come together on something… So that was showing the good in humanity, man. That was great.”

Less than a week after the initial news, WWE reached a new deal with the 53-year-old veteran. Since his return to television, R-Truth has been presented with a repackaged persona that shows more of his real self. He is currently in a feud with Aleister Black, whom he defeated on last week’s episode of SmackDown.

R-Truth’s victory over Aleister Black on last week’s SmackDown was a notable one, though not for its length. As was previously reported, the match was significantly shortened due to a preceding segment running long, a decision one WWE source called a “necessary evil.” Despite the time constraints, the win keeps the momentum with the veteran as his popular resurgence continues on the blue brand.

Seth Rollins Reacts To CM Punk Winning SummerSlam Title Shot

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Seth Rollins doesn’t think he can ever be friends with CM Punk.

The Straight Edge Star picked up a big victory at this past Monday’s Raw. He won a #1 contender’s gauntlet match to earn a shot at World Heavyweight Champion Gunther at SummerSlam.

While hosting The Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday, Seth Rollins was asked about Punk’s victory. The Architect claimed that he cannot wait to watch The Ring General beat his arch rival up:

“Great questions. I mean, I think CM Punk, you know, he won the match fair and square on Monday, the gauntlet match, so he’s entitled to a championship match vs. Gunther at SummerSlam.

So good for him. I fully expect Gunther to turn his chest into ground beef. I’m very excited to watch that from the confines of my living room.”

He’s The One: Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins mentioned that he might even be in the arena to watch CM Punk’s loss in person since his wife Becky Lynch will be competing at the show. The former World Champion then shared a hypothesis, claiming that he can never be friends with Punk in any universe:

“My feelings on CM Punk are not hard to find. I don’t like the guy. Never liked the guy. Haven’t liked the guy. Probably never gonna like the guy. You know what? I often wonder is there any world where CM Punk and I could be friends? Is there any world where I could not hate this dude? And, so far, the answer’s no.

And I’m not a guy that likes to hold grudges. I find that grudges, they take a lot of energy. Takes a lot of energy to hold grudges. You know what I mean? It takes time. It takes effort.

And I don’t like that. I like to put my effort into good things, positive things, people I like, I love, not people I hate. I think he’s the one. I think he’s the one. The one that I mean, there’s some other guys who I’ve had bad experiences with, but [it’s] water under the bridge. Not with him. Not with old Phil Brooks.”

Randy Orton Reveals The Most Rewarding Thing About Wrestling For Him

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Randy Orton is a proud father.

Jelly Roll hosted an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live on Wednesday and invited The Viper as his guest. During the interview, the Singing Star asked Randy if any of his children are interested in following in his footsteps in the wrestling business.

Orton explained that his youngest daughter has become a fan after he got the audience to sing her happy birthday during a WWE show:

Gosh, I’ve got some older ones, some younger ones. I [am] a father of five. Three boys, two daughters. My youngest daughter Brooklyn. Funny story for you. We’re in Brooklyn, New York, at the Barclays Center. It was the day of her fifth birthday.

So I have got my daughter, Brooklyn, in Brooklyn. After we went off the air, before those 20,000 people started to leave and go home. I was like, ‘Man, I gotta do this. She’ll never forget this if I bring her in the ring and have these people sing happy birthday to her,’ And that’s what I did.”

The Most Rewarding Thing: Randy Orton

Randy Orton then mentioned that her daughter joins her for shows every now and then. For him, seeing her reaction is the most rewarding thing about wrestling now:

“Oh, I’m telling you as a father, just to look on her face and she didn’t know what to think at the time. But now, I mean she’s eight and that little girl thinks she has fans all over the world. Every time she comes to a show, oh man.

Getting the reactions from my kids. It’s probably the most rewarding thing about what I do. But seeing her little face, seeing her proud of her father sitting front row. Cheering for me, booing for whoever’s kicking my ass that night. Man, it just warms my heart.”

The interview with Orton quickly turned into a wrestling segment when Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul showed up to the Talk Show. You can check out what happened afterward below:

Kane Believes Window For WWE Farewell Match Has Passed Him By

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For decades, Glenn ‘Kane’ Jacobs dominated in the ring, but it’s been years since the Devil’s Favorite Demon competed. Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Jacobs was asked if he had any plans for a final farewell in the ring. While the idea may be tempting for some, the WWE Hall of Famer acknowledged that he may never receive a full send-off.

“[Laughs] I don’t know about that, man. Oh man. Brother, we were just talking about athleticism and movement and keeping up with the pace of people nowadays. That may have left me behind, guys.”

Kane last appeared in the ring during the 2021 Royal Rumble match, where he had a brief but solid showing in the bout won by former rival Edge. While some hope to see Kane back for one more match, it appears that fans have seen the last of the Big Red Machine.

Outside the ring, Jacobs serves as the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, and though he identifies as a Libertarian, he is in office as a member of the Republican party. With Jacobs’ political career taking center stage, appearances in wrestling, either in or out of the ring, are becoming a rarity.

Kane had a career most wrestlers can only dream of, including reigns as WWE, World Heavyweight, and ECW World Champion. While a proper send-off may not be in the cards, the Big Red Machine’s legacy will last forever.


WWE NXT Hits Year-Long Ratings Low Against Stiff Competition

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WWE NXT struggled to keep the momentum of its recent Great American Bash event, resulting in the silver brand reaching an unfortunate milestone in its programming. Programming Insider reports that WWE NXT on July 15th drew 586,000 viewers on the CW Network. This marks a significant drop from the 659,000 viewers who tuned in the previous week.

The July 15, number is the lowest WWE NXT has hit since July 2024, and this is not the only unfortunate stat. The show scored a 0.12 rating in the 18 to 49 demographic, down from the 0.16 demo rating last Tuesday. This 0.12 is the lowest rating in the coveted demo since March 2023.

WWE NXT’s shortcomings can’t entirely be blamed on the show itself. The episode faced stiff competition the MLB All-Star Game on Fox, which drew 7.185 million viewers and a 1.43 demo rating. WWE has often struggled when going against other sports, with WWE Raw often being hit hard during Football season.

The show saw the fallout from Great American Bash and WWE Evolution, as well as several names from TNA Wrestling make themselves known. It remains to be seen how WWE NXT bounces back after this unfortunate milestone.

Another Top AEW Star Taking Time Off After All In Texas

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Another top AEW star is set for some time off.

Samoa Joe being stretchered out after his All In Texas match against Death Riders, was recently revealed to be an angle, allowing Joe to take time off for the promotion of the Twisted Metal Series.

Now Fightful Select has revealed that the heavyweight star is not the only one taking time off from the company after the latest PPV.

Will Ospreay picked up a big victory at All In. He teamed up with Swerve Strickland, and the duo defeated The Young Bucks to rid them of their EVP status in the company.

The Aerial Assassin then came out to help Hangman Page against Jon Moxley in the main event. This time, however, his opponents proved to be too much, and Ospreay had to be taken out on a stretcher.

The report has now revealed that this whole angle was done for the same reason as Samoa Joe. The former IWGP World Champion had been working banged up before the PPV and he will also be absent from AEW TV for a while.

A concrete timetable for Will Ospreay’s return to the company has not been confirmed, but it’s believed that he will be out for at least a month

While Ospreay will not be seen on TV in the upcoming weeks, his All In partner Swerve Strickland doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. The former AEW Champion started a new program on this week’s Dynamite which you can check out here.

Cody Rhodes On What Will Happen If John Cena Leaves As WWE Champion

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John Cena has vowed to leave WWE as champion, forcing the company to create a new ‘toy’ for Superstars to battle over. If that happens, WWE will lose pover six decades of history and legacy associated with the real WWE Championship, a threat Cody Rhodes isn’t taking lightly.

Speaking to the Boston Herald, Rhodes acknowledged Cena’s status as one of the greatest to ever grace a WWE ring. Rhodes can’t help but speculate as to what WWE will be forced to do if John’s vow to ruin wrestling comes to fruition.

John Cena is the greatest champion in wrestling history. It’s foolish to think he’s handing out any torches. He wants to go out like a warrior, or he will leave with the title, then we’ll have to have some silly tournament or something that I can prevent here and now.”

Cody, who lost the title to John at WrestleMania, has a chance to make things right at SummerSlam. After winning the King of the Ring crown, Rhodes will challenge Cena at the August PLE, a match that he knows won’t be easy.

“You have to beat him to grab that torch. Hit him where the ref can count to 100 if he wants. It honors his legacy to give him that as a warrior.”

WWE SummerSlam 2025 is scheduled to take place as a two-night event on Saturday, August 2, and Sunday, August 3, 2025, at MetLife Stadium. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Rhodes’ road to redemption.

ROH Champion Injured At All In Texas

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A current ROH champion suffered an injury during All In Texas.

The latest AEW PPV featured a Women’s Gauntlet match with a future shot at the Women’s World Title on the line. The ending of the bout saw Athena pinning Mina Shirakawa after hitting an O-Face.

Athena then appeared on this week’s episode of Dynamite, interrupting the current Women’s Champion Toni Storm. Storm was delivering her victory speech after defeating Mercedes Mone at the show this past Saturday.

The Forever ROH Women’s Champion talked about winning the Gauntlet match and claimed that not only Luther but also Shirakawa was out of her way.

Announcer Tony Schiavone later provided an update on these comments, revealing that Mina suffered a broken hand during the ending sequence of the All In match.

The injury comes at a troubling time for AEW, as Mina Shirakawa was crowned the Interim ROH Women’s TV Champion at Supercard of Honor last week due to Red Velvet’s injury.

Now Shirakawa getting injured herself will force the company to change their plans once again. Based on how long she will stay out of action, the officials could potentially strip her of the belt and put it on someone else.

Injured AEW Star Reveals Role In Upcoming Steven Spielberg Movie

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Brian Cage is recovering from double knee surgery—but that’s not slowing him down. The AEW star is also making a major leap into Hollywood with a role in an upcoming Steven Spielberg film.

Speaking to The Magic of Wrestling, Cage shared how Chavo Guerrero reached out with an opportunity to star in a wrestling-themed TV show. When that project stalled however, Guerrero put Cage’s name forward for a new movie and quickly caught the attention of producers.

“I get an email: ‘Hey, I just sat down and watched all your stuff with the director. He absolutely loves you. He thinks you’re perfect. He knows everything about you—your look, your charisma, your personality. He wants to offer you the role.’”

Cage was excited about the correspondence but had no clue who the director who thinks he is “perfect” actually was. When he reached out to find out, he learned that one of Hollywood’s biggest names is now a fan of his.

“I call the guy… and he goes, ‘Stephen said this, Stephen said that.’ And I go, ‘Stephen?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, the director. It’s Steven Spielberg.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, oh sh*t.’”

When asked if there was anyone he’d like to work with on the film, Cage didn’t hesitate to name his AEW tag partner, Lance Archer. The two reportedly filmed scenes together before Cage’s injury. The movie is currently slated for a June 2026 release, though that date may still shift.

In early 2025, it was reported that Cage had torn his quadriceps at an independent show, rendering him out of action for up to a year. While it’s unclear when he will be back, the wrestler continues to make waves in and out of the ring.



Jim Ross Recovering After Hotel Fall During AEW All In: Texas Week

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Jim Ross has revealed that he’s currently recovering from a bad fall that occurred during AEW All In: Texas weekend. Despite this setback, Ross was able to make a return to AEW programming after a break from TV to battle colon cancer.

Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross shared that the incident happened on Thursday night before the event. The situation was made worse by the fact that he was unable to call for help.

“I had a bad fall on Thursday night in my hotel room. And I was lucky. I wasn’t down for the count, but I had a hell of a fall and soft tissue… I didn’t break anything, I don’t think, but I had a bad fall in my hotel room, and I didn’t have my phone.”

Ross added that he didn’t suffer any broken bones, but he has been left dealing with soft tissue damage and lingering soreness. At 72, Ross is aware that his body doesn’t heal like it used to, though he remains optimistic.

“Still sore, to this very minute, I’m still sore. So it was quite the ordeal. That’s the only negative thing I could say is that I had a bad fall, and I survived it… The older you get, the slower you heal. And that’s kind of my situation right now.”

Despite the injury, Ross returned to the commentary desk just two days later at AEW All In, where he called the high-profile bout between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada. We at SEScoops are continuing to wish the AEW commentator a full and speedy recovery.

Ron Killings Says John Cena Isn’t Over, Wants To Turn Him Face

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Ron Killings’ feud with John Cena is far from over, despite the Undisputed WWE Champion’s career in the ring nearing its end. Speaking to the Toronto Sun, Killings reflected on working with Cena this year, and hasn’t given up on the ‘Unseen Seventeen.’

“Oh, it ain’t over. He got to turn back who he was. He hurt people’s hearts. That’s right. You just asked me the good stuff about him. He betrayed people, dog. He betrayed you, me, us, them, everybody, man.

“So he’s taking me on that roller coaster just like he’s taking everybody else. I need John back. Not for me, but for my sanity. For the sanity of R-Truth. So it ain’t over yet with him.”

Killings played a key role in Cena retaining at WWE Backlash: St. Louis, only to eat an AAA from Cena for his troubles. Killings faced John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event in May, followed by a match on SmackDown last month.

Right now, Cena is preparing for Cody Rhodes, who earned a title match at SummerSlam by winning the King of the Ring tournament. Though a WrestleMania rematch is looming for Cena, Killings is keeping a close eye on the WWE GOAT as his career continues to wind down.

Young Bucks Struggle On Dynamite After Losing AEW EVP Status

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The July 16 episode of AEW Dynamite took place at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois and dealt with the fallout from last week’s All In: Texas pay-per-view. During that show, the Young Bucks lost their tag team match against Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland, and in the process, lost their status as AEW EVPs.

During Dynamite, the former EVPs were clearly unhappy with their new circumstances. They arrived via a standard Lyft instead of their usual limo and were downgraded to a modest locker room, far from the executive treatment they once received.

In the ring, the Bucks teamed with Josh Alexander and Hechicero in an All-Star 8-Man Tag Team Match against ROH World Champion Bandido, JetSpeed, and Brody King. Their usual entrance video was replaced with a crudely styled alternative—seemingly created in MS Paint. Ring announcer Justin Roberts appeared to take pleasure in emphasizing their demotion during the introductions as he nixed their usual introductions with their full names.

Despite these changes, Don Callis seems to be aligning himself with the Bucks once again, hinting at potential developments to come. For now, though, the Young Bucks appear to be sliding down the AEW hierarchy.

Watch: Jelly Roll Puts Logan Paul Through Table At Jimmy Kimmel Live

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A wrestling angle took place at Jimmy Kimmel Live tonight.

Jelly Roll was filling in as the host for Kimmel at the talk show this Wednesday night. He invited his SummerSlam tag team partner Randy Orton to the show.

So it wasn’t a surprise when Drew McIntyre showed up to the set as well. After a war of words, the Scottish Warrior got into a fist fight with Orton, and the two led each other away.

Logan Paul was the next to show up and he started talking trash to Jelly Roll once again. The YouTuber then slapped Jelly Roll, and in response, the rapper chokeslammed Paul onto a table to end the segment:

The singing star was involved in WWE segments at this past Friday’s SmackDown and the following Saturday Night’s Main Event as well. After SNME, he was announced to team with Randy Orton to face Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre at the upcoming SummerSlam PPV.

The Grammy-nominated artist originally caught the wrestling bug after his appearance at SummerSlam last year, so his debut match being at the show this year makes sense.

Jelly Roll was a guest on the latest episode of Pat McAfee Show, where he revealed some details about his training for the upcoming bout. You can check out what he said here.

New Female Faction Formed On Dynamite

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A new alliance was formed on Dynamite.

This week’s episode of the Wednesday night show featured a women’s fatal four-way among Kris Statlander, Queen Aminata, Thekla and Willow Nightingale. The winner was announced to receive a cash prize of $100,000.

The ending of the bout saw Willow hitting the Doctor Bomb on Thekla and going for the pin. Kris Statlander, however, pulled the referee out of the ring to keep the match going. Nightingale then got out too and started brawling with Kris, leading the action away from the ring and onto the ramp.

Aminata took the opportunity to deliver a double stomp on Thekla, and she then went for a pin of her own. The Toxic Spider, however, managed to kick out.

Skye Blue then showed up at the ringside. Julia Hart appeared in the ring as well and spat the green mist on Aminata.

Thekla took advantage of the opportunity, and she pinned the fellow AEW star for the victory. The trio of Hart, Thekla, and Blue raised each other’s hands after the match, confirming that they are now working together.

Tonight’s show also featured The Young Bucks in action, who received a new entrance after their All In Texas loss. You can check out more about it here

The Young Bucks Entrance Changed After All In Texas Loss

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The Young Bucks are already feeling the effects of their loss at All In Texas.

The AEW founders put their Executive Vice President positions on the line against Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay at the PPV this past Saturday. The duo of Ospreay and Strickland had promised not to challenge for the world title if they lost but it was the Bucks who suffered the loss.

The effects of the brothers losing their power within the company was seen during this week’s episode of Dynamite, when the two made their entrance. Not only were the Young Bucks stripped of their usual pyro during their entrance, the production crew also changed the graphics on the big screen:

The duo of Nick and Matt Jackson teamed with Hechicero & Josh Alexander to face Bandido, Brody King, & JetSpeed at the show. The heels picked up the victory in this match after Hechicero put Bandido into a sleeper hold.

The former EVPs were not the only ones whose entrance was changed. New Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada also entered to a new theme at tonight’s show after his All In victory over Kenny Omega. Okada picked up a quick win after which he was confronted by Strickland. You can check out the full story here

Watch: Top AEW Star Gets New Theme On Dynamite

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A top AEW star has a new theme.

This week’s episode of AEW Dynamite featured the new Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada in action. He picked up a quick victory over Rafael Quintero.

What’s interesting to note about the current champion is that he got a new theme song, in addition to the new belt after All In Texas.

After the familiar coin drop sound that indicates his arrival, Okada entered to “C.U.R.I.O.S.I.T.Y.” by ONE OK ROCK instead of his usual Rainmaker theme that he’s used for years:

Following his victory, Kazuchika Okada called out Swerve Strickland, after the former AEW champion teamed up with Will Ospreay to defeat The Young Bucks at the PPV this past Saturday.

Strickland came out to confront the former NJPW star and quickly got into his face. Swerve was ready for a fight, but Don Callis held Okada back, deciding that it was not the right place for this confrontation.

Okada put his Continental Championship on the line against Kenny Omega’s International Title at All In Texas. The Japanese star won this bout with some help from Callis.

Tony Khan later confirmed that the new Unified title will be defended under the Continental rules. You can check out what he said here.

Jelly Roll Reveals Secret WWE Performance Center Residency Ahead of SummerSlam

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Country star Jelly Roll dropped a bombshell during Wednesday’s Pat McAfee Show, revealing he’s been secretly living at WWE’s Performance Center for weeks preparing for SummerSlam.

“I have been training. This is I’m announcing this on your show. I’ve quietly been living in Orlando for about three, four weeks at the PC,” Jelly Roll disclosed.

“I’m showing up every day like a piece of furniture over there. They can’t kick me out of there, dude. I’m there from the moment they wake up till it closes almost.”

The intensive preparation marks an unprecedented commitment for a celebrity WWE appearance. Under coaches Matt Bloom and Coach Moss, Jelly Roll has embraced full-time training typically reserved for developmental talent.

“Matt Bloom’s my coach… Coach Bloom and Coach Moss are my guys. They spend every day with me, man,” he explained.

This revelation elevates expectations for his SummerSlam debut alongside Randy Orton against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre. His secret ‘residency’ demonstrates both Jelly Roll’s dedication and WWE’s investment in authentic celebrity integration.

Pat McAfee Opens Up About Mental Exhaustion That Led to WWE Commentary Break

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WWE commentator reveals burnout behind recent hiatus, emphasizing mental health awareness in professional wrestling

Pat McAfee has provided candid insight into his recent step back from WWE Monday Night Raw commentary duties, revealing that mental exhaustion reached a breaking point during the company’s demanding travel schedule.

Speaking about his experience on his ESPN show, McAfee described recognizing the warning signs during WWE’s Money in the Bank event in Los Angeles.

“Oh my god, my brain is not like operating right now,” McAfee explained. “I’m staring down what you went through there. Like I knew this moment was coming. Like I knew it was going to happen at some point and it happens to people.”

The broadcaster, known for his high-energy commentary style, detailed how the combination of extensive travel, late-night returns, and his commitment to excellence created an unsustainable situation. “I was trying to put everybody over like maximum effort full every time trying to put people over to people that are watching,” McAfee said. “With the travel with me not getting back till like 2 3:00 a.m. on Monday night takes a toll.”

McAfee’s decision to prioritize his mental health was supported by WWE management, who understood the challenges of their demanding schedule.

“WWE has such a hard work kind of mindset and travel mindset and they’ve been doing it for so long. They understand like people get to like, hey, yeah, we understand you might need to take a sleep for a little,” he noted.

The relief was immediate after stepping back from Monday Night Raw. “I stopped going to Monday Night Raw so that took away two planes and a 2-hour sleep a night week away from schedule,” McAfee explained, adding that within days he felt significantly better.

McAfee’s openness about mental health challenges highlights the evolving conversation around wellness in professional wrestling, where performers are increasingly prioritizing sustainable career practices.

Cody Rhodes On Randy Orton: “We Could Do a Six-month Program That Leads to WrestleMania”

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Cody Rhodes recently defeated Randy Orton in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament, but “The American Nightmare” believes their story is far from over. In a new interview, Rhodes stated that he sees the potential for a much longer program with his former Legacy stablemate.

Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Undisputed, Rhodes discussed his history with Orton and stated that there is plenty of material for a more in-depth rivalry down the line.

“Randy and I have a lot of history. We could do a six-month program that leads to WrestleMania. There is a lot of meat on the bone,” Rhodes said. “It was a different type of build here with the tournament, with a whole different set of stakes… I think we’ll get into our history down the road, too.”

Rhodes’ victory over Orton at Night of Champions earned him an Undisputed WWE Championship match against John Cena at SummerSlam. He reflected on his current run in the company, calling it a special time in his career.

“This is uncharted and undiscovered in terms of what I envisioned for myself and WWE,” said Rhodes. “For my time here, this is the cherry on top. It’s a really special time.”

While a future program with Orton may be down the road, Rhodes’ immediate focus is on his championship match against John Cena at SummerSlam on August 2nd and 3rd. As for Randy Orton, he has entered a new rivalry of his own and is scheduled to team with musical artist Jelly Roll to take on the new alliance of Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul at the same event.

Seth Rollins Opens Up About Knee Injury and WWE Future

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An injury suffered at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event will keep Seth Rollins on the shelf for months, sidelining one of WWE’s top stars. Speaking on the Rich Eisen Show, Rollins shared that he knew something was wrong the moment it happened.

“When I landed, I felt my knee kind of pop and buckle. Monday, I was in Birmingham, Alabama where our specialists were at. We took a look at the knee through imaging. It was a little too swollen, so we’ll take another look hopefully in a week or two so that we can get a firm diagnosis and go from there.

Rollins admitted his medical knowledge is limited, but he’s certain he’ll be out of action for an extended period. Despite being one of WWE’s most prominent names, Rollins acknowledged the show must go on without him.

“This is gonna have me out for an extended period of time. We were talking off air earlier, it is a bummer, but our business moves on. It isn’t the first time I was injured, it’s not the last time.

While Rollins is down, he’s by no means out. Instead, Mr. Money in the Bank is already thinking about what he’ll be doing next April at WrestleMania 42.

“I’ve always got WrestleMania in the back of my mind. I’m like, can I make it back for WrestleMania season? I feel good about that, but beyond a firm timeline, I just don’t know until we get a better answer on the MRI. So that’s where it’s at.

Questions remain about Rollins’ status within WWE, including the future of the Money in the Bank contract while he is incapacitated. For now, Rollins’ focus is on recovery and returning in time for the Grandest Stage of Them All.

Roman Reigns Advertised For WWE Events

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After his shocking return on this past week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, Roman Reigns is now being advertised for the final two episodes of the show leading up to WWE SummerSlam.

According to local advertisements, Reigns is scheduled to appear on the July 21st episode of Raw from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. He is also being advertised for the go-home episode of Raw on July 28th from the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. These appearances will build anticipation for the two-day SummerSlam event in early August.

Reigns made his first appearance since Raw after WrestleMania 41 this past Monday night. He returned at the conclusion of the show to attack Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, members of the faction led by Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman. Reigns has made it clear he is seeking revenge for Heyman’s betrayal and the subsequent attack that wrote him off of television months ago.

While Reigns is set to appear on the final two Raw’s before SummerSlam, it remains to be seen who his target will be. His intended rival, Seth Rollins, is currently sidelined with a significant knee injury, and there is no official timeline for his return. WWE fans will be watching closely to see how Reigns and Paul Heyman address the situation and what it means for a potential Roman Reigns match at SummerSlam.

Damian Priest on Choosing Wrestling Over Stability, His Weight Loss

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Damian Priest’s path to the top was by no means easy, as he had to come to terms with several self-imposed issues holding him back. During a revealing interview on WFAN with Sal Licata, the 42-year-old champion opened up about the pivotal moment that transformed his life forever.

“I used to run a club in Atlantic City and I was set up. I mean, I didn’t have anything. I had nothing saved, no nothing to my name. But because of the job, I had a free apartment on the boardwalk in AC. I had a company vehicle, so I had a car, you know, and I had a job.

“And they wanted to give me more responsibility. And they wanted me to stop, you know, doing that. And this is quoting the owner at the time. He said, ‘I want you to stop doing that wrestling thing you do sometimes on the weekends.'”

With a decent job to his name, one that wouldn’t require painful bumps, many would have accepted this request. Instead, Priest realized the importance of chasing a dream.

“For whatever reason that day, it hit me a different way. And I was like, ‘Uh, you have my two weeks notice.'”

That decision left Priest essentially homeless, but it also sparked a transformation that saw him lose over 200 pounds and completely reshape his mindset. The journey wasn’t just physical—it was deeply personal.

“At the time, I was so miserable with myself that I treated others horribly. I look back now and I think about how I treated people, how I talked to people. Um, man, you talk about having regrets. That’s my biggest regret was being a bad person to other people for no reason.”

The transformation required what Priest called radical honesty with himself. For the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, he realized that there was no easy solution to his dilemma, and he would only succeed through hard work.

“I had to start being honest. And the moment I did that, you realize how many times you don’t want to give that answer. So, you actually work hard.”

Now, as he prepares for SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium, Priest’s story serves as proof that it’s never too late to start over—no matter how far you’ve fallen.

At 42, Damian Priest Proves Age Is Just a Number in WWE

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In an industry obsessed with finding the new young prospect, Damian Priest didn’t capture his first WWE championship until age 42—and he’s the first to admit that makes him an anomaly. Speaking to WFAN with Sal Licata, Priest reflected on reaching his peak in WWE at a time many are eyeing retirement.

“Yes. Like there’s others, don’t get me wrong. But it’s not as common. So 100% it’s definitely on the rare side.”

Priest’s journey to the top defies conventional wrestling wisdom. After 20 years in the business, including stints in Ring of Honor and on the independent circuit, he’s achieved more in five WWE years than many wrestlers do in their entire careers.

“It’s crazy the amount that’s happened in five years, but it feels like I’ve been here way longer.”

The key to his breakthrough wasn’t physical ability or fresh storylines—it was learning to be authentic. Priest credits Triple H with giving him career-defining advice that echoes mentorship from The Undertaker.

“My boss Triple H came up to me one day and he was like, ‘The day you stop trying to pretend to be you and you’re just you, you’re going to make a lot of money in this business.’ He goes, ‘Undertaker told me the same advice.'”

Priest acknowledged that there is some irony to this rallying cry for authenticity, given how wrestlers are often instructered to play larger-than-life characters.

“And he [Triple H] goes, ‘I know it’s weird, right? Because how am I how’s somebody telling you how to be yourself that you’re not being yourself like you know you?’ And he goes, ‘But one day it will click.’ And sure enough, one day it just did.”

That authenticity breakthrough came during a match with Finn Balor in NXT, leading to his main roster call-up and eventual championship success. The lesson extends beyond wrestling—sometimes the best version of yourself emerges when you stop trying to be what others expect.

Priest is hardly the first WWE World Champion to win gold despite being past what many would consider ‘the prime.’ The very first WWE Champion, Buddy Rogers, was also 42 when he won the gold, as was Ric Flair when he first won the WWE Championship in 1992. Bobby Lashley’s second run with WWE saw him capture the WWE Title on Raw’s March 1, 2021 episode, winning the gold at 44 years old.

As Priest prepares for SummerSlam at MetLife Stadium, his story offers hope to performers across all industries who feel they’ve missed their window. In a business that often prioritizes youth over experience, the 42-year-old champion proves that sometimes the best things come to those who wait—and work—for their authentic moment.