WWE’s Omos is on his way back to programming, close to two years after his most recent televised singles match. At Pro Wrestling NOAH’s latest event, Omos and Jack Morris retained the GHC Tag Team Championship. After the match, Omos relinquished his title to Daga. Sharing his future plans, Omos revealed that he will be leaving the promotion for the time being to go back to WWE.
“I’m going back to WWE so I’ll give this belt to Daga. Please increase the value of this belt. The champs are now Jack Morris & Daga. I don’t know when but I’ll come back”
Omos and Morris captured the titles at the start of January, making the Nigerian the first contracted WWE main roster talent to win NOAH gold. Throughout his reign, Omos had remained in Japan where he learned plenty about the culture and cuisine.
Omos’ return to WWE will come close to two years after his most recent singles match on TV. That match came at WWE Backlash 2023, where he was defeated by Seth Rollins. His most recent match for WWE was as part of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal during the April 5, 2024, edition of WWE SmackDown.
With Omos’ announcement coming mere days before the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble, fans are speculating as to whether he will be a part of this year’s Men’s Rumble match. Whatever is planned, Omos is ready to bring his giant frame back to WWE and lay waste to opponents.
On the January 24, edition of WWE SmackDown, Damian Priest was moved to the blue brand as part of WWE’s Transfer Window. Speaking after the show, Priest shared what fans can look forward to every week on Friday nights.
“It’s been a big one, man. Four years in WWE, all Monday Night Raw. I feel like this is the right time to move. I accomplished everything that I wanted to accomplish on Monday Night Raw. World Champion, United States Champion, multiple-time tag team champion. Now, it’s time for something new, a new challenge, new rivals. I’m here on Smackdown, ready to take them all on.”
Priest’s arrival on WWE SmackDown saw him defeat Carmelo Hayes in a strong start for the former World Heavyweight Champion. In a backstage segment with Cody Rhodes, Priest told the Undisputed WWE Champion “See you soon, champ,” teasing a potential showdown for the gold.
Damian Priest’s arrival on SmackDown marks a major change to the blue brand, which also welcomed The Miz this week as part of the Transfer Window. During the show, Miz tried to align with A-Town Down Under before it was revealed that Grayson Waller and Austin Theory have been moved to Monday Night Raw.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Damian Priest as the former World Champion seeks to re-establish himself as one of WWE’s top Superstars, noa as part of WWE SmackDown.
Joe Hendry hopes that his TNA title win inspires people to chase their dreams.
The TNA world title is the first major championship Hendry has won in his career. Despite being active in the business for 12 years, Hendry’s breakout year came in 2024 and he has finally started getting the recognition he deserves after more than a decade in the business.
The new TNA Champion reflected on his years of hard work in a new interview with WrestleZone. While discussing his previous losses to Nic Nemeth before he finally defeated the wrestling veteran for the championship, Joe Hendry said that the whole story is very representative of his real life:
“Taking three times is very representative of my real life. If you look at all the things that I’ve done in my life, it’s taken me a long time to do them. When I started amateur wrestling, I think I had probably about six or seven attempts at national titles before I finally won one. I had been to TNA before in the past, and it only lasted a few months. I’ve been other places, something or other didn’t quite work out.”
Hendry got his first shot at the World Championship at the Slammiversary event last July. Coming off the success of his viral theme song, many thought Joe would win the bout but it didn’t end up being the case. After being diverted to a feud with Josh Alexander, Hendry got his second opportunity at the world title at Bound For Glory in October but he lost the match again due to interference from JBL.
After finally succeeding in his quest at the Genesis event on January 19, Joe Hendry explained that he’s never gotten anything in life in his first try. Having to work his way back up to the card and the title match after every defeat, the new champion hopes that his story will help teach the importance of not giving up to people:
“In my life through all the things I’ve done, I never get things the first try. So doing it this way is actually a bit of a snapshot into my life, and I hope it inspires people to realize that when not to be cliche, but when you do get knocked down, you just have to keep going and being relentless and believe in yourself.
If you keep doing the right things you’re supposed to be doing, it’s going to happen, and you’re going to get there. That is who I am. That it happened in this way, that is Joe Hendry.”
Joe Hendry had his first title defence after winning the championship at the first live episode of Impact in eight years this week. You can check out who was his surprise opponent for this bout here.
The 2025 WWE Royal Rumble premium live event got even bigger on this week’s SmackDown with a huge WWE Tag Team Championship match added to the card. On the January 24, edition of SmackDown, the Motor City Machine Guns discussed DIY doing all they can to avoid a title match. It was then revealed that the titles will be on the line on February 1… in a two-out-of-three falls match.
This will mark the first time the WWE Tag Team Championships have been defended at a PLE since WrestleMania 40. At last year’s Showcase of the Immortals, the titles, then known as the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, were defended alongside the RAW Tag Team Championships in a ladder match. This exciting upcoming match will also mark the WWE PLE debut of the Motor City Machine Guns. The team of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin arrived in WWE in October 2024 and have competed on TV and at live events ever since.
This match is just the latest high-stakes contest set for the Royal Rumble, which will include two Rumble matches and a ladder match between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the Royal Rumble including breaking news and live results.
Former WWE star Commander Azeez aka Dabba-Kato has detailed his experience of traveling to Saudi Arabia with the company for their first PPV event.
WWE’s 10-year partnership with the Saudi General Sports Authority started with the Greatest Royal Rumble event in 2018. Azeez who had been signed by the company to a developmental contract in 2016, made his TV debut at this event.
The wrestling giant reflected on his experience working the show in a new interview with MuscleManMalcolm. He revealed that he was told to sign a waiver before he could get on the plane to reach the country:
“To travel there, you need to sign a waiver. There is a waiver. The waiver says that you are aware to what country you’re going to.
There are some legal consequences for stuff that is different in the States. I don’t remember all of the points, but I remember one point was ‘Beheading,'”
Commander Azeez who was the 37th entrant in the match lasted about 5 minutes before being eliminated by the eventual winner Braun Strowman. He would continue his work in developmental after this appearance, later making his Raw Underground debut under the ring name Dabba-Kato.
Staying on the topic of his Saudi trip, the 36-year-old was asked if beheading was something that could happen if he did something wrong. The wrestling star replied positively saying it made the whole trip extreme even before he got there:
“Yes. I had to sign it in the office, that I’m aware of this. I signed it. Even before we got there, it was already extreme.”
After the end of Raw Underground, Dabba-Kato was repackaged as Commander Azeez in 2021, and paired with Apollo Crews. He continued making sporadic appearances for the company after the end of this run before being released in September, 2023.
The Rhodes family has been an established force in wrestling for decades, with Dusty, Dustin, and Cody forging their own legacies in the ring. Now, fans could soon be seeing more Rhodes’ in action via the nephews of the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion.
Before SmackDown, Cody was spotted backstage with Wyatt and Wayne Rhodes, who both have joined the family business of pro wrestling. The trio also showed off a one-of-a-kind image of Cody, autographed by all three men.
Wyatt and Wayne made their AEW debuts last August during a dark match ahead of Collision, where they defeated Aaron Solo and Jon Cruz That show proved to be extra special for the Rhodes family, as on that night, Dustin became a ROH World Tag Team Champion alongside Sammy Guevara.
The Rhodes family is currently at its arguable peak of success, with both Cody and Dustin holding gold in their respective promotions. It remains to be seen where Wayne and Wyatt one day appear at a WWE event as Superstars rather than as guests, but the future looks bright for the famed wrestling family.
Nia Jax says Tiffany Stratton cashing in the Money In The Bank contract on her was a beautiful moment and she was a little proud of the young star.
Tiffany won the Women’s Money In The Bank match at the namesake event in July last year. The former NXT star then formed an alliance with Jax, helping her win the WWE Women’s Championship from Bayley at SummerSlam 2024.
Stratton’s MITB win made this dynamic very interesting with WWE teasing a potential cash-in on multiple occasions. They finally pulled the trigger on it at the January 3 episode of SmackDown earlier this month.
The former Women’s Champion talked about the 25-year-old ‘stabbing her in the back’ during a recent interview with Stay Busy with Armon Sadler. Nia Jax proclaimed that it was something she had never experienced before and told Tiffany to keep an eye out for her:
“There is part of me that is a little proud of her because I taught her well, I can’t lie. The betrayal still eats at me. She definitely shouldn’t be sitting comfortably,”
The wait for Tiffany’s cash-in was unusually long with WWE teasing it on multiple occasions only to back out. Nia Jax discussed how the large number of teases had made fans kind of numb to yet another tease and it was fun to shock the people who always think that they know everything:
“I thought it was beautiful. I’m torn. It was a beautiful moment to watch my Tiffy become champion. Being at the other end of it, did it hurt a little bit? Yes, but watching the reaction of the crowd when she hit me on the back, when I was watching back and reactions, I couldn’t even hear myself in that moment.
It was beautiful. It was beautiful that everybody was like, ‘Oh, it’s not going to happen.’ She played it perfectly. I have to give her, her flowers on that one.”
Nia Jax who is a SmackDown star has been making appearances on Raw in recent times as part of the Transfer Window. While her move has not been confirmed officially, it seems likely that Jax will become part of the Raw roster after the end of her title reign.
WWE’s longtime headquarters Titan Towers has been sold with the new owners intending to convert it into an apartment complex.
According to CT Insider, the six-story building located at 1241 E. Main St. on Stamford’s east side has been acquired by real estate firm MB Financial Group for $3.75 million.
The firm which has previous experience in redeveloping big buildings into residential properties, intends to do the same with the old WWE HQ:
“Our intention is definitely to do this within the existing building,” said Michael Massimino, CEO and Managing Partner of MB Finance “Right now, we’re in our conceptual phase, as far as laying out density and common-area amenities.”
Once the plan for the redevelopment has been approved by local zoning officials, the new owners of the Titan Towers are expecting the whole process to be complete by the first half of 2027, with more than 80 residential units available for people.
The decision to sell Titan Towers came after WWE announced intentions to move its headquarters to downtown Stamford back in 2019. The move that was delayed due to the pandemic finally began in 2023 and the building at 1241 E. Main was then put up for sale in mid-2024.
The wrestling giant also recently completed the sale for its old production studio located at 120 Hamilton Avenue, Stamford. The studio was acquired by V20 Group for approximately $7.5 million
Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey was one of the celebrities in attendance for the January 24th episode of WWE SmackDown from Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
The acting star was shown sitting in the front row right behind the announcer’s desk during the broadcast. Former Universal Champion Kevin Owens also acknowledged The Golden Globe award winner during the episode.
Owens targeted McConaughey while cutting a promo standing at the announcer’s table. KO told the Texas native that he’s going to beat Cody Rhodes the same way Ohio State Buckeyes beat Texas Longhorns in a recent Football match.
McConaughey also got to meet The Undertaker backstage during the night and the Dead Man gifted him a Texas-WWE Legacy Championship
From one Texas Longhorns fan to another! @undertaker just gifted @McConaughey the perfect WWE Legacy Title ?
Along with Matthew McConaughey, names such as Shane Gillis, Gabriel ‘Fluffy’ Iglesias, and Tony Hinchcliffe were in attendance for the event as well.
Kevin Owens is set to challenge Cody Rhodes in a ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the upcoming Royal Rumble PPV on February 1.
WWE has announced that Shawn Michaels will be holding a contract signing segment between the two for the title match at this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 25.
Apart from this segment, the show also featured a couple of big announcements including confirmation of the return date for former Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair. You can check out more about it here.
A couple of former world champions in The Miz and Damian Priest have been moved to the SmackDown brand as part of the transfer window.
Both these trades were confirmed during the January 24 episode of the Blue Branded show. The A-Lister was first informed of his move while meeting General Manager Nick Aldis in a backstage segment.
The Miz orchestrated to get the Wyatt Family moved to SmackDown before to try and get away from the group so he was not happy with this latest change.
The Miz tried to form an alliance with Greyson Waller and Austin Theory after this move to save himself from the Wyatts. Nick Aldis however, revealed another trade and informed the A Town Down Under that they were being moved to the Raw brand instead.
Apart from this, WWE also confirmed the return date for former Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair during the show. You can check out more about it here.
Charlotte Flair has officially confirmed her return to WWE, announcing her participation in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match. The announcement came during a vignette that aired on Friday’s episode of SmackDown, where Flair declared, “The GOAT doesn’t have to call themselves the GOAT. I’ve crafted a legacy no one can touch, and I know exactly who I am. And I’m back.”
Flair has been absent from WWE since December 2023 due to a severe knee injury sustained during a match against Asuka on SmackDown. The injury, which involved a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus, required surgery in January 2024. Throughout her recovery, Flair kept fans updated via social media, sharing glimpses of her training and rehabilitation process.
The Royal Rumble premium live event will take place on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. Flair’s return promises to add excitement and star power to the highly anticipated match.
The winner of the Women’s Royal Rumble Match will earn a title match of their choosing at WrestleMania 41. They can either challenge Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley or Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton.
El video package del retorno de Charlotte Flair, anunciando su participación en el Royal Rumble la semana que viene. No se han guardado la sorpresa, pero el mensaje es potentísimo. #SmackDownpic.twitter.com/XDsk1GZFxc
WWE fans may soon witness a marquee singles match between Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. Both stars have expressed interest in facing each other in previous interviews, and according to Fightful Select, the bout has been discussed as a potential match for WWE WrestleMania 41. However, these plans are tentative and subject to change, as is often the case in WWE.
Ripley and Belair have been two of WWE’s top stars for several years but have mostly been kept apart, with only occasional teases of a matchup. Recently, Ripley regained the WWE Women’s World Championship by defeating Liv Morgan during the WWE Raw on Netflix premiere. Meanwhile, Belair continues to hold the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Naomi.
The two stars were previously slated to face each other at WWE Money in the Bank 2022, where Ripley was set to challenge Belair for the Raw Women’s Championship. However, an injury forced Ripley to withdraw, and Belair instead faced Carmella. Since then, Ripley and Belair’s interactions have been limited, though they did work together as teammates leading into WWE Survivor Series 2024 in the Women’s WarGames match.
WWE WrestleMania 41 is set to take place as a two-night event on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium.
Hogan was originally slated to appear at Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 25th, though his role at the event remained unclear. The appearance had raised eyebrows given Jesse Ventura, who is also scheduled to be at the show, has a well-documented history with Hogan. Their tension dates back to when Hogan reportedly tipped off Vince McMahon about Ventura’s plans to unionize wrestlers.
However, Hogan will not be appearing as planned. Chris Featherstone first reported the cancellation, with Dave Meltzer later confirming the news. According to Featherstone, Hogan’s absence is due to a family-related issue and is unrelated to the reception he received during his Raw on Netflix appearance.
Hogan’s recent appearance on Raw on Netflix went viral after fans heavily booed him during the segment, a moment that garnered significant attention from various media outlets. Hogan was on Raw to promote the show and hype WWE’s partnership with his Real American Beer, one of the company’s new sponsors. Following the appearance, there was speculation that Hogan might not appear on television as frequently moving forward.
Scott Steiner is known for his big personality and unfiltered opinions, as Big Poppa Pump is never afraid to speak his mind. This week, Steiner sparked speculation by hinting at a potential appearance this weekend at the the 2025 Royal Rumble premium live event.
WWE announcer Pat McAfee expressed his excitement about the Rumble on X. He’s heading (home) to Indianapolis and believes the atmosphere will be electric and that the event will be unforgettable. With just over a week to go, he emphasized that Indianapolis is the perfect host city and that the world will soon see why.
This post caught the attention of Steiner, who suggested that the Royal Rumble would only achieve true epic status if he were to make an appearance.
only way Royal Rumble reaches true EPICness is with Big Poppa Pump in the building. https://t.co/MTxOe6LUqN
Despite being one of wrestling’s most notorious names, Steiner has done relatively little in the Royal Rumble match. Steiner has just two Rumble matches to his name which fell exactly one decade apart (1994, 2004.) Steiner’s sole elimination took place in the 1994 match and saw the future Freakzilla throw out Samu.
The WWE Royal Rumble 2025 is shaping up to be another exciting edition of the fan favorite event, with more and more names declaring themselves for the two 30-Superstar contests. It remains to be seen whether Scott Steiner enters the ring or merely makes an appearance, but there’s plenty of fans who’d love to see Steiner in Indianapolis.
Dominik Mysterio, the son of WWE legend Rey Mysterio, has made a bold claim, declaring himself the “greatest Mysterio of all time.” In an interview with The Babyfaces Podcast, Dominik shared his thoughts on surpassing his father’s legacy and his journey in WWE. The rising star also reflected on key moments in his father’s career, his own achievements, and the family dynamic that continues to fuel one of WWE’s most engaging storylines.
Dominik confidently stated, “I’m the greatest Mysterio of all time… I’m four years in, and I’m already better than my old man in every way, shape, and form.”
Despite being just four years into his wrestling career, Dominik believes he has outshined Rey Mysterio, who is celebrated as a pioneer of the cruiserweight division and a global icon in the sport. Dominik’s audacious remarks are part of his ongoing persona as the arrogant antagonist who constantly challenges his father’s storied legacy.
The younger Mysterio also spoke about Rey’s 2006 Royal Rumble victory.
“One of my favorite Rumbles is when my deadbeat unfortunately won,” Dominik said, noting that he had hoped Randy Orton would secure the win instead. Dominik went on to liken Rey to a “deadbeat,” a term he has repeatedly used in his heel promos.
Looking ahead, Dominik aims to further establish his own name and legacy, especially as he gears up for next weekend’s Royal Rumble premium live event. His steady rise in WWE, coupled with his ongoing rivalry with his father, has created a compelling narrative that continues to captivate fans.
Dominik Mysterio’s self-proclaimed title as the greatest Mysterio adds another layer to this family feud, keeping audiences invested in the evolving storyline that blends personal drama with professional ambition.
Analyzing Dominik’s Claim
While Dominik’s confidence is undeniable, Rey Mysterio Jr.’s accolades far exceed his son’s. Rey’s Hall of Fame career spans decades, featuring multiple championship wins, iconic matches, and a reputation as one of the greatest high-flyers in wrestling history. This comparison, however, is inherently flawed given their differing stages in their careers.
Despite this, the Mysterios have achieved history together as the first father-son duo to win WWE Tag Team Championship gold. However, their relationship has since fractured, culminating in one of WWE’s most captivating storylines. To evaluate Dominik’s claim of being the “greatest Mysterio,” let’s take a closer look at their encounters in the ring.
Tag Team History
Rey Mysterio and his son Dominik during happier times
Before their rivalry, Rey and Dominik shared a historic moment by becoming the first father-son duo to win WWE Tag Team Championships. The pair captured the SmackDown Tag Team titles at WrestleMania Backlash in 2021 and held them for 63 days before losing to The Usos.
Rivalry Origins
The father-son feud began at Clash at the Castle on September 3, 2022, when Dominik shockingly turned on Rey following their match. This betrayal not only marked Dominik’s alignment with The Judgment Day but also set the stage for an intense family rivalry.
Singles Matches
Dominik Mysterio slaps his father Rey Mysterio
WrestleMania 39 (April 1, 2023) Rey Mysterio defeated Dominik in their first major singles confrontation. The match was a spectacle featuring interference from The Judgment Day and Latino World Order, with Bad Bunny playing a key role in the outcome.
RAW (July 1, 2024) Rey once again triumphed over Dominik during an episode of RAW, proving his dominance in their ongoing feud.
WWE Live Holiday Tour (December 28, 2024) Their latest encounter saw Rey emerge victorious during the WWE Live Holiday Tour, further solidifying his superiority in singles competition.
Conclusion
Dominik Mysterio’s claim of being the “greatest Mysterio of all time” is ambitious, but it underscores his determination to step out of his father’s shadow and build his own legacy. While Rey’s achievements place him in a league of his own, Dominik’s ongoing growth and dedication to their feud keep this storyline engaging for fans. Only time will tell if Dominik can truly live up to his lofty proclamation.
Here’s the official preview for tonight’s WWE SmackDown, airing live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, at 8/7c on USA Network. With just two days until Saturday Night’s Main Event, tonight’s show will set the stage for one of the most important nights on the WWE calendar.
Two high-profile matches have been announced for tonight’s episode:
LA Knight vs. Tama Tonga: A heated singles match following last week’s Bloodline attack.
Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. Pretty Deadly (Kit Wilson & Elton Prince): A clash of top tag teams.
What’s Expected Tonight
Title Picture Updates
WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton: After successfully defending her title against Bayley last week, Stratton is set to appear.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes: Rhodes will make an appearance to build momentum ahead of his title defense at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Building to Saturday Night’s Main Event
Tonight’s episode is the final stop before Saturday Night’s Main Event in San Antonio, an event featuring several championship matches and key rivalries. The following matches have already been confirmed:
Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens (WWE Championship)
Jacob Fatu vs. Braun Strowman
“Main Event” Jey Uso vs. GUNTHER (World Heavyweight Championship)
Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus (Intercontinental Championship)
What Happened Last Week?
Highlights from the January 17 SmackDown:
Tiffany Stratton retained the WWE Women’s Championship against Bayley.
Kevin Owens and Rey Mysterio had their first-ever match, ending with Cody Rhodes making the save.
Bianca Belair & Naomi defeated Nia Jax & Candice LeRae in tag team action.
Motor City Machine Guns defeated Los Garza.
Jimmy Uso vs. Carmelo Hayes ended in a no-contest after interference from Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga.
Dominik Mysterio has revealed his memories of his dad Rey Mysterio’s incredible Royal Rumble win.
The young veteran recently had an interview with the Babyfaces podcast to promote the upcoming PPV. He talked about things such as the global impact of Raw being on Netflix, his love for country music and more.
When asked for his favorite Rumble memories, Dominik Mysterio revealed that one of the Rumbles he vividly remembers is when his father Rey Mysterio won the whole thing in 2006:
“Yeah dude, I love the Rumble. It’s one of those things where you really never know who’s going to come next. So it really is a surprise. But for me one of my favorite Rumbles is when my Deadbeat unfortunately won. Because I thought, I was a big Randy Orton guy, so like I thought Randy was gonna take it.
And then Deadbeat just comes in and ruins it. But shout out to Triple H too, pulling him out, being a sore loser, throwing him against the steps. I thought that was pretty cool. I was like, all right this is a done deal. Randy’s got it in the bag, but no. But anyways I’m excited for the Rumble man. The Rumble’s always, it’s been one of my favorite pay-per-views of all time for sure.”
Rey Mysterio had entered at #2 in the ’06 Rumble right behind Triple H. He spent 62 minutes and 12 seconds in the match and eliminated 6 people to win the battle royal. He then went on to defeat Randy Orton and Kurt Angle in a triple threat to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22.
Royal Rumble this year will be taking place from Indianapolis, Indiana on February 1. You can check out a list of confirmed participants for this year’s battle royal here.
Baron Corbin believes there was one particular person behind his WWE release.
2024 saw some really surprising departures from the company including names such as Indi Hartwell, Jinder Mahal and Bobby Lashley. Though probably none of these was as shocking as the departure of the Lone Wolf.
Being an extraordinary in-ring worker who can help build any star, as well as somebody who could even get characters like sad Corbin over, the former US Champion was considered the ultimate utility player. So the news of WWE not renewing his contract was met with astonishment among fans.
The former WWE star opened up about the top brass’ decision to not renew his contract during his new interview with Chris Van Vliet. Baron Corbin interestingly suggested that there was someone in particular who was not his fan:
“It was two and a half million views on my tweet alone. People were shocked. I was shocked. I could weirdly, kind of, you know when your gut instinct tells you something, and like I said, I think there was one person in particular that I think was behind all of it, and it sucks, but it is what [it is].”
Baron Corbin also revealed that Randy Orton had called him after learning the news and offered to talk to Triple H on his behalf:
“I’m not gonna cry over it because I’m grateful for everything I had there and every opportunity that I had there, I can’t let one person put me in a bad place. I’m not gonna let one person control my emotions.
I mean the fact that Randy Orton’s calling me, going there’s someone that doesn’t like you. Again, I know who it is. I told him and he’s like yeah, probably right. But when you have someone of that magnitude being like I want to talk to Hunter, it makes you feel good.”
Despite the abrupt end of his 12-year tenure with the company, Baron Corbin seems to be in good spirits. During the interview, he explained that he has been smart with his money and proclaimed that he can now do whatever he wants.
AEW’s Max Caster may consider himself the best wrestler alive, but the AEW star is far more humble on his brand new album. This week, Caster shared his new album ‘Worst Rapper Alive’ to Spotify. The 14-track album includes songs such as ‘Cancelled’, ‘Mixed Nuts,’ and ‘Performative Feminist.’ The 38-minute album is Caster’s first since 2021 and once again demonstrates the AEW’s talents outside of the squared circle.
As expected, the album includes several references to wrestling. Cancelled includes comments about Caster’s work in AEW and a comparison to John Cena’s time as a freestyle rapper. American Male includes the line ‘Feelin’ like Buff, I should be a gigilo,’ a nod to Buff Bagwell, who once competed in the American Males tag-team.
Caster’s new album comes amid a time of great change for the wrestler. On the latest AEW Collision, Caster and Anthony Bowens ended their tag team as Bowens has grown tired with Caster’s attitude. The Acclaimed had teamed in AEW since 2020 and captured the World Tag Team Championships in 2022. The following year, the duo, alongside Billy Gunn, captured the AEW Trios Championships at All In: London.
Where Caster’s AEW future goes next remains to be seen, but the loudmouth continues to make his voice heard in and out of the ring. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Caster and his role in wrestling and rap.
Shelton Benjamin has explained why his partnership with Chad Gable did not go anywhere.
The Gold Standard was paired with the former American Alpha member in SmackDown upon his WWE return in 2017. This came after Gable’s former partner Jason Jordan was moved to the Raw brand to start his infamous storyline with Kurt Angle, quietly disbanding their team.
Benjamin opened up about working with the former Olympic Athlete during his appearance on Talk Is Jericho. He first offered big praise to the 38-year-old and proclaimed that Gable still hasn’t gotten his due:
“When I first arrived, they put me with Chad Gable and well, like, phenomenal worker. No, he has not [gotten his due]. He hasn’t. And to me, it sucks, because everyone has an excuse.
I said for every excuse, I can point out an example why that excuse makes no sense. That guy is special, whether fans realize it or not, he is. He’s got a blue-collar mentality. He’s Uber-talented. He’s dedicated. He’ll do whatever you need him to.”
Though despite being compatible on paper, the team of Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable did not find a lot of success. Their run lasted 8 months before they were split up during the 2018 Superstar Shakeup without ever holding any titles together.
Speaking about why the pairing did not work despite having similar backgrounds, Shelton Benjamin said that he never really clicked with Gable. He remembered his chemistry with Team Angle partner Charlie Haas and said that he never felt the same teaming with the current WWE star:
“When they put us together. Obviously, he’s actually from Minneapolis too. So it seemed right, especially, with Jason not being able to work anymore. But I don’t really think that tag team worked. We had some good matches. They threw us in some really zany matches. We had a great matchup with the Usos, but it, for me, it really wasn’t working. Through no fault of anyone.
The chemistry, it wasn’t like me and Charlie. Me and Charlie were like, Charlie’s the best partner I’ve ever had. So for whatever reason, me and [Gable] while we got along great, we just didn’t click the same way. It wasn’t the same but again, that being said, all due respect, that kid is phenomenal. Everything he’s done, he’s made work.”
Conor McGregor recently shared insights into a hypothetical boxing match with Logan Paul during an interview with The Schmo. While the fight never materialized, McGregor explained the reasoning behind the idea, referring to it as a “business savvy” move during his downtime from the UFC.
“It was business savvy and business sense to make the fight happen. Or should I say the glorified spar happen,” McGregor said.
“In between this wait… before I can get back to the Octagon, it made perfect sense on the calendar to go ahead with it. The UFC weren’t into it. I’m not sure the WWE, what their interest was. I just knew the UFC weren’t into it.”
McGregor has not competed since suffering a broken leg in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier. Although his return was planned for a bout against Michael Chandler—promoted heavily on WWE Raw—it was delayed due to a toe injury.
In addition to addressing the Logan Paul fight, McGregor has also pitched a “TKO KING TITLE,” a concept he previously tied to an abandoned matchup with Jake Paul. While neither fight came to fruition, McGregor’s comments underline his ongoing ability to generate interest, even in hypothetical bouts.
TKO Group! UFC vs WWE. There is levels to this, a big sloppy novice is going to find out! TKO KING TITLE ? #BiggestGenerator#KingofNumbers#Streams#PPV I hold every record and I am coming back to KO this novice and rack in more numbers for the company. #StockMarketIndia…
Cora Jade’s pursuit of the TNA Knockouts World Championship will lead her to competing on a future episode of TNA iMPACT. After this week’s show, TNA filmed next week’s episode of their weekly flagship show. During the taping, the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion took on TNA Wrestling’s Hyan.
This match marked Jade’s first time competing for TNA Wrestling, but not her first time competing for the company. In 2019, Jade competed as Elyana Black against Havok during the TNA Prelude to Glory event. Jade, again as Elyana Black, has also competed for AEW, making her one of a select few to compete in the three major wrestling promotions in the United States.
Jade appeared at TNA Genesis where she confronted Masha Slamovich after the TNA Knockouts World Champion retained her gold against Rosemary. Jade was also a part of this week’s iMPACT, where her distracting presence would cost Slamovich and Spitfire in six-woman tag-team action.
Cora Jade had shared her intent to win the TNA Knockouts World Title, which if successful would be a historic first between the two parties. With a match between Jade and Slamovich seeming inevitable, it remains to be seen whether it’ll be the champion or the challenger who has the home-field advantage.
In late 2024, Zaria exploded onto the scene in WWE NXT after a high-profile run in the Australian wrestling scene. Now, the powerhouse is set to take a break from wrestling, but has assured fans that it’s only a temporary break.
Y’all are funny. Life happens and you have to take a step back for a bit. I’ve got a whole career ahead of me, 5 weeks isn’t gonna hurt. Have patience little ones.
Zaria gave no word why she is taking a five-week break, but fans are already eager to see her back in the ring. The Australian’s most recent match came at a December 20, NXT live event where she, Gigi Dolin, and Shotzi came up short against Fatal Influence.
Zaria currently boasts a 3-3 record since arriving in NXT, with her most recent victory coming over two months ago against Wren Sinclair. This has come as a surprise to fans given that WWE made a big deal upon her arrival on the silver brand. Zaria is one of three high-profile female signings WWE NXT made in 2024, alongside Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia.
The Australian powerhouse’s arrival in WWE NXT may not have gone as many would have predicted but fans remain excited to see what’s to come. Though Zaria won’t be in action just yet, it’s only a matter of time before she is back showcasing her physical dominance in the ring.
Sting has announced that he’ll be retiring his iconic Stinger look and face paint soon after the end of his active wrestling career last year.
The Icon competed in his retirement match at the 2024 Revolution PPV. While having the option of a singles match, the wrestling veteran chose to team up with his protege Darby Allin one last time to defeat The Young Bucks in a tornado tag team match.
Despite hanging his wrestling boots at the March PPV, Sting has continued donning the iconic face paint for various meet & greet events. Though the WCW veteran confirmed that 2025 will be his last year of doing so in a new social media post:
“I have enjoyed meeting fans at events around the world. As much as I have loved interacting with you all in the traditional Stinger war paint, I’ve decided that 2025 will be my last year appearing in full gear. I guess it’s 2025 or never. Wow. Tough to speak that out.”
I have enjoyed meeting fans at events around the world.
As much as I have loved interacting with you all in the traditional Stinger war paint, I’ve decided that 2025 will be my last year appearing in full gear.
Sting made his in-ring debut for Tony Khan’s promotion at the Revolution 2021 event, so his 2024 retirement match brought his run with the company to a full circle. In his 3-year run with the company, the 65-year-old wrestled a total of 29 matches and remained undefeated in the end.
The former world champion has since signed a legends deal with AEW and he also made an appearance at the 2024 All In: London PPV.
On the January 22, edition of AEW Dynamite, Christopher Daniels shared that his in-ring career is over following a brutal Texas Death Match against “Hangman” Adam Page on the previous Collision. On X, Daniels shared that his family went all out to celebrate his career now that “The Legend Has Retired.”
The tribute incudes images from Daniels’ time in various promotions including Ring of Honor, AEW, and TNA Wrestling, as well as earlier in his career. The tribute not includes plenty of images of Daniels, but also the character Curry Man, who Daniels portrayed during his tenure with TNA.
Future For Christopher Daniels
While Daniels’ has signalled that his days in the ring are over, that may not be the case. Dave Meltzer shared on Wrestling Observer Radio that people have said though Daniels isn’t wrestling “for now,” AEW is “shooting an angle and [he] may wrestle again later.” During Daniels’ announcement on Dynamite, Page looked concerned that he’d ended another man’s career, teasing that there may be more to come with the Cowboy and the Fallen Angel.
For the time being, Daniels has hung up his boots, but he remains with AEW as the company’s head of Talent Relations. Whether fans see him in the ring again remains to be seen, but the love and respect for Daniels shared by his family can’t be denied.
