AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone feels truly seen as part of Tony Khan’s first promotion and has said that hasn’t always been the case in her career. Writing for The Independent ahead of this weekend’ AEW All In: London 2024 event, Mone spoke of the respect she is shown as an ‘All Elite’ talent.
“In WWE you have no idea what you’ll be doing week to week, but here I have space to be heard. Along with Tony Khan and with my friend and personal writer Jennifer Pepperman, there’s time to sit down and really plan out the kinds of stories we want to tell.
“I’m treated with genuine respect, and I really feel seen in a way I sometimes haven’t before. I love it so much here.”
Mone joined AEW at the Big Business: Dynamite show in March of this year, close to two years after she and Naomi walked out of WWE in May of 2022. Mone would subsequently join New Japan Pro Wrestling where she is a former IWGP Women’s Champion.
What’s To Come?
Mone will put her TBS Championship on the line at AEW All In: London 2024 against Britt Baker, a match fans have been itching to see long before Mone was ‘All Elite.’ On this week’s Dynamite, Baker addressed Mone’s past as ‘one of four’ (a nod to her role in WWE’s Four Horsewomen) while the DMD sees herself as one-of-a-kind.
AEW All In: London 2024 will take place tomorrow, August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on All In: London 2024, including live results.
The first-ever WWE Speed Women’s Champion will be decided in a tournament. This week, fans got their first look at the Superstars who have the chance to etch their name in the history books.
Fans at this week’s SmackDown didn’t have to wait long to see WWE Speed women’s division matches. During a dark match, Lyra Valkyria took on IYO SKY. The tournament will begin airing on X on September 4.
WWE Speed consists of three-minute matches meaning Superstars have to waste no time in order to score a victory over their opponent. Matches for the Men’s WWE Speed Championship are granted a five-minute limit. Ricochet was the first WWE Speed Champion but he has since lost the gold to current champion (and longest reigning champion) Andrade.
WWE’s Fastest Matches
Three minutes may not seem like a lot of time, but there are some matches that more than fit this time limit. On the September 4, 2000, episode of Raw, Chris Jericho and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler defeated Tazz and Mideon, with Lawler getting the roll-up over Tazz and his team winning in three seconds.
Aliyah scored a 3.17-second win over Natalya during a January 2022, edition of SmackDown. WWE would lean heavily into the win, with the now former Superstar receiving an ‘Aliyah 3:17’ shirt to celebrate her victory. Aliyah was released from WWE in 2023 though, so don’t expect her to be racking up wins on WWE Speed.
Drew McIntyre competed in a fun dark match after this week’s episode of SmackDown from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. went off air.
The Scottish Warrior wasn’t part of the show but he wrestled in one of the two dark matches of the night. In the first dark match, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan squared off against Kairi Sane.
The second dark match then saw Drew McIntyre taking on Jey Uso. Despite being late in night, the crowd was super excited for Uso’s entrance and he got a huge ovation.
At one point in the bout, Jey tried to entice McIntyre into doing the Yeet, telling him that the crowd will stop chanting the name of CM Punk if he did so. In the end, Jey won the match after rolling Drew up for the pin.
Tonight’s episode of SmackDown featured a number of top stars in action. The Greyson Waller Effect was the opening segment of the night where a match between Waller & Theory and Cody Rhodes & Kevin Owens was made official.
During the show, LA Knight successfully defended the US Championship against Santos Escobar while The Bloodline managed to retain the tag team championships against The Street Profits, using the numbers to their advantage.
The tag team match featuring the Undisputed WWE Champion was the main event. Owens won the match for his team after pinning Waller. After the match, the company briefly teased KO turning on Cody when he had the WWE title in his hands but he ultimately decided against it.
Sting and Lex Luger, who were once one of the most impressive tag-teams of their generation, were able to reunite at the 58th annual reunion of the Cauliflower Alley Club. On Twitter, Sting shared a photo of himself and his friend and former tag team partner.
Sting attended the reunion to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, the highest honor awarded by the club. The award is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler. Previous recipients include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE RAW Superstar CM Punk. Several notable names attended this year’s reunion, including ‘Bowl Cut Kid’ from WWF and WCW pay-per-views in the 1990s.
Sting & Lex Luger
Sting and Luger first began teaming in April 1988 when Luger was without a partner for the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. Luger had previously been teaming with Barry Windham, who had betrayed Luger to join the Four Horseman. Despite not being an established team, Sting and Luger would go the distance and defeat Arn and Tully Blanchard in the finals.
The genuine friendship of Sting and Luger was no secret in wrestling, even when the pair found themselves on opposing sides in WCW. In fact, it was a phone call between the two in 1995 that resulted in Luger returning to WCW. Luger made his comeback on the debut edition of WCW Monday Nitro despite being offered much less than what he was making when he previously worked for the promotion.
What is the Cauliflower Alley Club?
Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name.
The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.
Bobby Lashley has explained his recent comments about WWE’s leadership, which some took as a swipe at the current regime of Triple H. Earlier this month, Lashley said that Vince McMahon “understood me” and that the former WWE Chairman “looked at me like a star.” Lashley went on to say that he hasn’t had “too much of a connection with Hunter.”
Bobby Lashley preferred Vince McMahon’s booking over Triple H .. hopefully he is back on TV somewhere, anywhere soon pic.twitter.com/6XTDnauw1A
Some fans took Lashley’s comments as a swipe at the Game, as he hadn’t appeared on WWE programming for months before this interview. Speaking more recently to The Bo and Them Show, Lashley made clear that he is not someone who speaks ill of others.
“I never bad mouth anyone, I never bad mouth the business. I left WWE in 2008. You can’t see any article where I said anything bad about the people there.”
Lashley added that “everyone was going after” him for speaking highly of his relationship with McMahon. The former WWE Champion simply stated the facts that he had more conversations with McMahon when he was in charge compared to Triple H.
“I had a different relationship with Vince. When Triple H came on, we never really had a chance to sit down. He didn’t get a chance to get to know me.”
Lashley’s profile was recently moved to the Alumni section of WWE.com following reports that his time with the promotion has come to an end. It has been stated that Lashley has attracted interest from AEW and that a Hurt Business (now dubbed the Hurt Syndicate) reunion with MVP and Shelton Benjamin remains possible.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Bobby Lashley and where his wrestling career takes the former WWE and TNA World Champion next.
TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace is ready and willing to put her gold on the line in any promotion, amid TNA’s ongoing partnership with NXT. At ViolenceXSuffering’s Arrival 2 event this week, Grace defended her gold in an open challenge that was answered by Megan Bayne. Speaking after her match to SE Scoops correspondent Muscle Man Malcolm, Grace made clear her title is open to all challengers.
“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it a million times over. I’ll defend the TNA Knockouts World Championship anywhere, at any company, against anyone.”
Grace’s comments will have fans speculating on where she could appear next, and whether a return to WWE NXT could happen for the Knockouts Champion. While Grace appeared for WWE’s gold brand earlier this year, she did not put her title on the line, and instead challenged for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship. Grace has defended her own gold against NXT’s Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley, though those matches happened at TNA events.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Jordynne Grace and her title reign that will see her compete against anyone brave enough to face the Juggernaut.
On August 23, 2023, the wrestling world was rocked by the passing of one of the industry’s most notable legends: Terry Funk. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion passed away at the age of 79 after years of several health issues, including being diagnosed with dementia in 2021.
The Legacy of Terry Funk
Born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana, Terry Funk was destined for the wrestling world. The son of Dory Funk Sr., a revered wrestler and promoter, Terry and his brother, Dory Funk Jr. were quite literally raised in the sport.
Terry debuted in 1965, quickly making a name for himself in his father’s promotion, Western States Sports, based in Amarillo, Texas. His early style was a reflection of his father’s influence—technical and hard-hitting. It would be a decade later that Funk’s crowning achievement came as on December 10, 1975, he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating the legendary Jack Brisco. Funk held the gold for 14 months and his technically sound bouts proved why he was the right man to hold the 10 pounds of gold.
The Reinvention
In the 1980, Funk did what few wrestlers can, or rather, want, to do; he reinvented himself. Moving away from the pure technical style of his early career, Funk embraced a more violent, unhinged persona. His work in promotions including All Japan and later ECW showcased a different, more violent side, complimented nicely by his technical savvy in the ring. Funk’s feud with Ric Flair in 1989, particularly their brutal “I Quit” match at WCW Clash of the Champions IX continues to be considered one of the pivotal matches of the career in both men.
As a pivotal figure in hardcore wrestling, it is fitting that Funk became ECW World Heavyweight Champion at the extreme promotion’s first pay-per-view, Barely Legal 1997. Having Funk be a part of the promotion proved to be pivotal for the rag-tag promotion that was looking to make its mark in wrestling, as the legacy and prestige of Funk proved impossible to deny.
An Influencer
Terry Funk’s impact on professional wrestling extends beyond his in-ring accomplishments. He was a mentor to countless wrestlers, including Mick Foley, Steve Austin, and Tommy Dreamer, all of whom credit Funk with helping them shape their careers. In the foreword of Funk’s book More Than Just Hardcore, Foley recalls being under a ring for over an hour as part of a planned spot involving Funk, stating that despite the cramped and uncomfortable area, he’d do anything for his mentor.
Funk’s influence also reached Hollywood, where he appeared in several films, including Road House and Over the Top, often playing the tough guy that mirrored his wrestling persona. This allowed Funk the chance to share the screen with top Hollywood names like Patrick Swayze, further etching his legacy in the media in and out of the ring.
Terry Funk Honored
In 2009, Terry, alongside his brother Dory Jr. was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, a fitting induction given that it took place in the pair’s native Texas. Their induction also came the same night that ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, one of many names inspired by Funk, took his place in the annals of wrestling greats. Following his passing, WWE paid tribute to Funk and Kevin Owens, whose in-ring style bears a striking similarity to the Funker, wore a shirt of the legend for a Payback 2023 Street Fight.
The Funker may be gone, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of wrestling fans forever. The wrestling world will always remember him as a man of many roles: A champion, a pioneer, a symbol, and of course “middle-aged and crazy!”
A trio of WWE Superstars paid tribute to Olympic Champion Simone Biles on the latest edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX. During the show, Jade Cargill, Naomi, and Bianca Belair united to take on WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) and Blair Davenport. The two sides have been at odds for some time and Davenport has helped the champion retain their gold against Cargill and Belair.
Belair, Cargill, and Naomi wore a series of colorful attires for this week’s WWE SmackDown which aired from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Eagle-eyed fans will have noticed that these attires were all inspired by attires Biles has worn in gymnastics.
The Biles-inspired team got the win on SmackDown. The Unholy Union and Davenport isolated Belair until The EST finally made the tag to Cargill, who emerged as a one-woman wrecking crew. Naomi got the win for her team after hitting a split-legged moonsault on Blair Davenport.
What’s To Come?
The Unholy Union will defend their WWE Tag Team Championships at WWE Bash in Berlin against Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair. The challengers have so far had a mixed experience at WWE PLEs in Europe as they won the gold at Backlash: France and lost the titles to the Unholy Union at Clash At The Castle: Scotland.
WWE Bash In Berlin will take place on August 31, and will air from the Uber Arena in the German capital. The show will mark WWE’s first Premium Live Event from Germany and the latest in a string of shows that have seen WWE travel beyond North America. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from WWE Bash in Berlin, including breaking news and live results next weekend.
There may be no more famous ringside fan the notorious Vlad, but another name of notoriety is the intense “Bowl Cut Kid” and he has finally resurfaced.
Online documentarian and lucha libre advocate Roy Lucier was one of the names to attend the 58th Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas. Lucha legend Negro Casas was the recepient of the Lucha Libre Award and Lucier sat at the table with the famed luchador. However, he went around and got plenty of photo opportunities, and that included the ‘Bowl Cut Kid.’
Who else remembers the Bowl Cut Kid, who was front row at all the WWF and WCW PPV’s back in the 90’s? He’s here at @CACReunion right now! pic.twitter.com/PzD3Gq5wIr
Over a decade ago, a thread on Reddit was posted trying to determine the whereabout of the expressive heavyset fan at ringside who would be at several WWE and WCW events during the 1990s wrestling boom period.
“Bowl Cut Kid” was noted to be seen at several major shows including WrestleMania XII, WrestleMania 13, Halloween Havoc 1996 and Survivor Series 1996. He’s also been all over the United States in different cities.
However, the city he was at this past week was Las Vegas. Lucier made sure to get a photo with the fan who sadly no longer sports the bowl cut, but did keep his signature intensity for the picture.
In addition to Casas, the long list of recipients included Kurt Angle, Sting, The Dudley Boyz, Bill Alfonso, Buff Bagwell, Jim Ross and more. The event took place over the course of three days and a lot of other names were in attendance for the ceremonies.
What a great experience at @CACReunion and a huge honor to receive the 2024 Men’s Wrestling Award!@mstacybrown and I have had an awesome time catching up with old and new friends in Las Vegas! @TheRock’s mom Ata even taught Stacy how to hula! pic.twitter.com/xKNEeLcP6H
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown airs live on FOX at 8 PM EST from the Capital One Center in Washington, D.C., on August 23, 2024. The penultimate SmackDown before next weekend’s WWE Bash in Berlin PLE will feature two championship matches.
Confirmed matches and segments for tonight’s WWE SmackDown include:
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Bloodline (c) vs. The Street Profits
United States Championship Match: LA Knight (c) vs. Santos Escobar
Cody Rhodes will be Grayson Waller’s guest on the Waller Effect
6-Woman Tag Team Match: Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi vs. Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn and Blair Davenport
Stay tuned to SEScoops for our coverage of this week’s WWE SmackDown.
What Happened Last Week
WWE SmackDown last week culminated with The Bloodline standing over a brutalized Roman Reigns. With the battle lines drawn, will Reigns recruit help to reclaim his title as the Tribal Chief?
Earlier in the night, The Street Profits became No. 1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Titles. Cody Rhodes came to Kevin Owens’ aid, Blair Davenport secured a victory over Naomi, Carmelo Hayes picked up a hard-fought win against Andrade and Michin’s interrupted Nia Jax’s Women’s Championship celebration – with a kendo stick.
Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:
This day is a special one for WWE’s resident CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, as it was 25 years ago today that he captured his first of 14 WWE World Championships. On the post-SummerSlam 1999 edition of RAW, The Game defeated new champion Mankind to etch his name in the history books.
Lillian Garcia On Her WWE Debut
This week also marks 25 years since the debut of Lilian Garcia in WWE, who served as the promotion’s chief ring announcer for years. Speaking with SE Scoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Lilian recalled her first day with the promotion.
“It was such a blur… 20 minutes before I was live on the air they told me no cue cards. I remember terror if I could put it in one word. To know, that 14 million people were watching around the world and 20,000 in the arena. It was intense.”
Sheamus Pulling Pints
Sheamus will be a special guest picker for Pat McAfee on tomorrow’s episode of Pat’s show that’ll take place in Dublin, Ireland. After landing in the Emerald Isles, Sheamus and McAfee wasted no time in getting a drink at the JR Mahons pub.
The Wyatt Sicks have proven to be must-see since arriving in WWE and have been at odds with Chad Gable and American Made. In the group’s latest cryptic post, the faction makes clear their issues with Gable’s group aren’t over year.
Today, August 23, marks one year since the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion passed at the age of 79. His brother Dory Funk has returned to the ring for a match as part of a tribute show to Terry, an act that will make Dory the oldest professional wrestler to compete.
Jade Cargill envisions huge things in her future as a WWE Superstar, with singles championship gold being just one accolade in mind. Speaking to Metro, Cargill gave her lofty prediction for her career trajectory in the promotion.
“I’m going to get the WWE Women’s World Title. That’s going to happen. Being a legend in this industry – that’s going to happen.”
Cargill also intends to be “a staple for the women’s division” in the future and hopes that working with the top women of WWE will allow her to continue to grow. The SmackDown Superstar is willing to let herself be “shaped and molded” as her career continues in WWE.
Jade Cargill In WWE
Cargill signed with WWE in September 2023, mere weeks after her tenure with AEW came to an end. From the very start, she has been presented as a huge draw and made her much-anticipated in-ring debut during the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Cargill made it to the final three before being eliminated by Liv Morgan.
At WWE Backlash: France, Cargill and Bianca Belair captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, marking the Storm’s first taste of gold in WWE. The pair’s return to Europe would not be as successful as they lost the gold to the Unholy Union at WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland. Nevertheless, expectations remain sky-high for Cargill and it may be a matter of time before her predictions of gold and status become a reality.
Wrestling fans are gearing up for another big event next week, TNA Emergence. Following the latest episode of TNA iMPACT, we have several additions to the PPV match lineup. TNA Emergence is scheduled for Friday, August 30 2024. The event will stream live on Triller PPV ($9.99) from Louisville, Kentucky. Here is the updated card:
Iron Man Match: TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth vs. Josh Alexander
Ultimate X Title Match: X Division Champion Mike Bailey vs. Zachary Wentz vs. Riley Osborne vs. Jason Hotch vs. Laredo Kid vs. Hammerstone
The Hardys, Joe Hendry & Mike Santana vs. The System
Steve Maclin vs. Eric Young
Matt Cardona vs. PCO
Jordynne Grace & Spitfire vs. Ash By Elegance, & M-Alisha
Countdown Show: Frankie Kazarian vs. KUSHUIDA
The Road to TNA Emergence
The conclusion of the 8/22 show saw Moose and JDC lose to The Hardys in the tag-team main event. After the loss, Moose and JDC were joined by fellow members of The System, Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards, for an attack of Matt and Jeff Hardy. This continued until Joe Hendry and Mike Santana ran out to make the save, ending the broadcast with a four-on-four stand-off after the post-match brawl.
Late Thursday evening, TNA Wrestling confirmed all four members of The System squaring off against The Hardys, Hendry and Santana in a featured eight-man tag-team match for the PPV card, along with Steve Maclin vs. Eric Young in singles action.
On Friday afternoon, TNA announced via Twitter (X) that KUSHIDA and Frankie Kazarian will meet in one-on-one action in a bout that will take place on the Countdown To TNA Emergence 2024 pre-show.
The match comes after the two were involved in a post-match brawl of their own on the 8/22 TNA iMPACT broadcast. After both came up short to Hammerstone in the Ultimate X Qualifier that opened up the show, Kazarian hit KUSHIDA with his “Face To Black” finisher and posed over his unconscious body in the center of the ring.
WWE legend Kevin Nash has recently shared his thoughts on the current state of Monday Night RAW, and he didn’t hold back on what he considers to be the best part of the show.
According to Nash, Rhea Ripley, who he referred to as a “f*cking Panther,” is the standout performer on WWE RAW.
Kevin Nash Praises Rhea Ripley
On a recent episode of his podcast, Kliq This, Kevin Nash delved into what makes Rhea Ripley so special on WWE’s flagship show.
Nash, a two-time WWE Hall of Famer, expressed his admiration for Ripley, stating, “She came out last night and when she went to the ring, her movement in front of the hard camera was like, I don’t know, a f*****g panther. Everything that makes her what she is, which is, to me, the best thing on the show, most shows, by far, my favorite character, is her.”
The Rise of Rhea Ripley on RAW
Rhea Ripley has consistently been a dominant force on WWE RAW since her promotion to the main roster. She has held the RAW, SmackDown, and WWE Women’s World Titles, solidifying her position as one of WWE’s top stars.
Her current storyline involving Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan has kept fans on the edge of their seats, especially after Mysterio betrayed Ripley at WWE SummerSlam 2024.
Upcoming Showdown at WWE Bash In Berlin
Looking ahead, Rhea Ripley is set to team up with Damian Priest, as the “Terror Twins,” to face off against Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio at WWE Bash In Berlin on August 31.
This match is highly anticipated, as fans are eager to see how the drama between Ripley and Mysterio unfolds further.
WWE Superstar Shotzi has provided fans with a much-anticipated update on her injury and potential return to the ring. After suffering a severe knee injury earlier this year, Shotzi has been on the road to recovery and recently shared a hopeful update on her progress.
The Injury and Its Impact
Shotzi sustained a significant ACL tear during the February 13, 2024, WWE NXT taping. The injury occurred while she was executing her apron DDT move in a match against Lyra Valkyria.
This unfortunate incident led to her being pulled from an Elimination Chamber qualifying match, where she was eventually replaced by Alba Fyre.
Shotzi’s Recovery Journey
In a recent update shared on her Instagram Stories, Shotzi provided a glimpse into her recovery process. She posted a photo showing her undergoing a cupping therapy session, which is a part of her rehabilitation.
Along with the image, she included a reassuring message: “Just a few more months.” This suggests that while she is making progress, her return to in-ring action is still a few months away.
What’s Next for Shotzi?
While Shotzi’s fans are eager to see her back in the ring, her message indicates that her recovery is on track but will require a bit more time.
This injury has certainly been a setback, but her optimistic update provides hope that she will make a strong return.
WWE has not yet announced a specific return date, but based on her timeline, fans can expect her to potentially make a comeback in late 2024 or early 2025.
John Cena’s time may be running out in the ring but he knows that his time will always be then, now and forever.
While appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live with guest co-host and acting legend Jeff Goldblum, Cena revealed that always carries along a broken pocket watch with him. He does have an actual watch to keep the time, but he carries around the pocket watch for an even bigger reason: perspective.
“I used to think I was not enough. I did not value self. So on the back of this watch it says ‘comparison is the thief of joy,’ so I take this and every time I feel uncomfortable or have low self-worth, I just give it a little reminder and it reminds me that I am enough and I am worthy of love.”
The front of the watch has a very different message to give the future WWE Hall Of Famer another thing to be mindful of.
““It says ‘Memento mori’ for when my head gets too big I need to remember that I am human and I’m above no one and always remember where I came from and remember those who support me, that I don’t do it alone so I have one side when I don’t think my ego is too big and one side for when I don’t feel enough and it’s a nice little keeper of perspective not time and that’s why I have it.”
Cena will likely have that pocket watch handy as he heads into 2025 to keep perspective during his farewell tour, a run that consists of 36 dates for Cena with some big stops on the way including WrestleMania 41 and Royal Rumble.
Please credit Jimmy Kimmel Live and h/t to SEScoops for the transcription.
A.J. Mendez-Brooks’ best-selling memoir, ‘Crazy is My Superpower’ (2017) is being adapted into a television documentary for A&E. Mendez-Brooks became a household name a decade ago as AJ Lee, one of the most popular wrestlers in WWE. The trailblazing performer helped jumpstart the Women’s Revolution before being forced into retirement due to injuries.
Since then, she’s become a New York Times Best Selling Author, has taken several acting roles and has new comic book series, ‘Day of the Dead Girl.’ Mendez-Brooks discussed these projects and more during this new interview with The Comicon:
Crazy is My Superpower: How I Triumphed by Breaking Bones, Breaking Hearts, and Breaking the Rules (2017)
Recently-retired WWE superstar AJ Mendez Brooks is a powerhouse–strong, quirky, and totally confident. But that wasn’t always the case. With humor and tremendous heart, she opens up for the first time about her harrowing struggle to understand her demons and the diagnosis that helped her gain control over her life.
Everything I was told should be my greatest insecurities and weaknesses, everything that I’ve been labeled–SHORT, NERDY, SKINNY, WEAK, IMPULSIVE, UGLY, TOMBOY, POOR, REBEL, LOUD, FREAK, CRAZY–turned out to be my greatest strengths. I didn’t become successful in spite of them. I became successful because of them.
Growing up AJ was a quiet girl trying to act “normal” when she felt anything but. As her family struggled with drug addiction, poverty, and mental illness, she found escape through comic books and video games, and was inspired by the tough and unconventional female characters. It wasn’t until she discovered pro wrestlingthat she learned superheroes could be real.
Determined to become the superhero she’d always admired, AJ trained and sacrificed for years to achieve her dream of wrestling professionally. Yet she quickly faced industry pressure to play the role of the damsel in distress and to dress more provocatively to cater to male fans. But she fought back and created an ass-kicking alter ego that was a genuine representation of herself: nerdy, enthusiastic, and a little bit crazy.
With humor and tremendous heart, AJ opens up for the first time about her harrowing struggle to understand her demons and the mental illness diagnosis that helped her gain control over her life. What most people view as a hardship, AJ embraced as inspira-tion for her superhero persona, shattering the stigma attached to mental illness.
Charting her journey from a scrappy girl in an unstable home to an empowered wrestling champion, Crazy Is My Superpower is an un-flinchingly honest story and brave confessional about her long road to self-acceptance.
AEW wrestler Bryan Danielson could be stepping inside the ring for the last time at this Sunday’s AEW All In London. He has revealed what he plans to do next post-retirement.
‘The American Dragon’ will battle Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship this Sunday. Ahead of the bout, Danielson raised the stakes as he put his career on the line. Should he lose, he will hang up his boots. Danielson is a family man and also focuses on helping his community. The Washington-born wrestler told Bleacher Report that while he is willing to be involved in the pro wrestling business after his retirement, he also wants to give back to the community.
“One of the things that is very important to me is to participate in my community. A lot of times, when you look globally or nationally, you see problems and it’s very hard to affect change. But within your community, you can do a lot. When we travel so much, I’ve been able to do some things here or there. “
The 43-year-old veteran recalled how he once helped a creek restoration in Washington where, several years ago, no salmon were coming back into that stream. He did some physical work as well as helped with funds. He said:
“One of the things I’m proudest of is I helped a creek restoration in Washington where, several years ago, there were no salmon coming back into that stream. And now there are.I went out there three or four times to help actually do the physical work and help fund some of it. Stuff like that is stuff I’m really interested in.”
Bryan Danielson is also hopeful of getting more involved with his kids’ activities. He said:
“Also, my wife got to coach my son’s tee-ball team last year. She had to go and do something, and I got to step in and be a substitute coach for one tee-ball practice and a game. I had so much fun. So, participating in my kids’ lives, participating in my community, being an active member and helping with things locally. Everywhere you look, there are always things that can be improved upon. I’m trying to participate in that where I can.”
This Sunday could be Bryan Danielson’s last match and if that’s the case it will be the culmination of a legendary career of more than two decades. He will be walking into the sunset as one of the greatest wrestlers to grace the ring, having multiple accolades in the top promotions across the world.
Mustafa Ali recently revealed that when WWE released him in September last year, his wife was set to undergo neck surgery.
Ali dropped a snippet of Immersed: Ali vs. Bailey, a documentary that depicts the build-up and aftermath of Ali’s match against Bailey at last month’s TNA Slammiversary 2024. The former WWE wrestler recalled that on the day he was released, he also was informed that his wife required neck surgery. He said:
“People don’t know that the day I got released, I went upstairs and told my wife the news. Two [or] three minutes later, her doctor called her and she was like, ‘You have a broken neck. You need neck surgery.'”
Ali felt that he managed to shut up a lot of critics following his match against Bailey. It’s been almost a year since his wife received the call about the surgery and Ali provided a positive update on his family. He said:
“My wife’s healthy, my babies are healthy. I’m probably not as healthy after wrestling Mike Bailey, but I think tonight I finally shut up a lot of those critics that thought I couldn’t deliver.”
I received a phone call from WWE that I was being let out of my contract. Minutes later, my family got another phone call.
At Slammiversary, Ali dropped the TNA X-Division Championship to Bailey. He also failed to dethrone Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship. Soon, reports emerged which stated that Ali had wrapped up his time with TNA.
Recently, House of Glory Wrestling announced that Mustafa Ali is scheduled to challenge Zilla Fatu for the HOG Crown Jewel Championship at HOG Chicago on September 5 at the Logan Square Auditorium.
This will mark the former WWE star’s third appearance in the promotion. In his previous appearances, he defeated Amazing Red and Alex Shelley. Ali is now aiming a triumphant return to the promotion and end Zilla’s title run.
Swerve Strickland is at the top of the wrestling world right now. The journey of this success, however, hasn’t been an easy one and he has had to go through some very tough times to get here.
The AEW World Champion recently had an interview with SHAK Wrestling. He discussed things such as his pairing with Prince Nana, who would win a match between Kendrick Lamar and Drake and more.
During the interview, Strickland was asked about his struggles and what was the lowest point of his career. The AEW star mentioned that it was right before he got the Lucha Underground opportunity:
“Definitely earlier on. Feeling lowest was like probably right before Lucha Underground came around. It was like, ‘oh man, it’s either I continue on this independence or I just got to go to Japan for a year, find a way to do that,’ Which I still didn’t have like a real connection or any type of link to get to that.
Either that or just like I’m gonna have to go full-time active duty in the military. It was like that turning point, and then Lucha Underground came in as an opportunity. It wasn’t even just a contract; it was more of like a tryout for Lucha Underground in dark matches. They didn’t even know yet.”
The Lowest Point
Swerve Strickland started wrestling while he was still serving in the United States Army Reserve. Having to balance his day job with his wrestling aspirations while also having little kids was almost an impossible task for him:
“So that was probably the most turning point because it was like two kids, employment wasn’t really working out as much. Check to check, check to check, like little cash here and there on the independence. But that was probably the lowest point.
[I] didn’t even have a car, I was definitely borrowing cars or getting on the train to get to Philadelphia for CCW events or jumping in carpools and rides and things like that. There’s just a lot going on. Trying to maintain a successful wrestling career and a job consistent employment, almost impossible. Probably harder nowadays than it was 10 years ago. So that’s definitely like my turning point though.”
Fortunately for Swerve, Lucha Underground signed him to a contract in 2014. He quickly became one of the most prominent characters of the show wrestling under the ring name of Killshot.
The Lucha Underground run opened the doors for Strickland’s WWE signing in 2019. When the company let him go while cutting costs during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Swerve joined AEW and the rest is history.
Ronda Rousey says she deeply regrets amplifying a conspiracy theory that the horrific 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting that took the lives of 26 people (including 20 young school children) was a “staged” event.
Rousey took time out of her UFC schedule to give credence to the notion that the US government faked the Sandy Hook school shooting in an effort to enact stricter regulations on firearms, and that the grieving parents were actually crisis actors. Rousey called this demented conspiracy, “extremely interesting” and told her millions of social media followers that one video detailing the conspiracy was a, “must-watch.”
Earlier this week, Rousey participated in a Reddit AMA fan Q&A session that was hijacked by people asking her about Sandy Hook. She’s taken this as an opportunity to finally issue a full-throated apology, 11 years later. She claims to be haunted by the mistake ever since, takes responsibility for her actions and expresses profound remorse for the pain caused.
Rousey urges others not to fall into the trap of conspiracy theories, emphasizing that such beliefs only lead to harm and isolation.
Ronda Rousey’s Sandy Hook Apology Statement
The former WWE & UFC Champion issued the following statement on social media:
“I can’t say how many times I’ve redrafted this apology over the last 11 years. How many times I’ve convinced myself it wasn’t the right time or that I’d be causing even more damage by giving it. But eleven years ago I made the single most regrettable decision of my life.
I watched a Sandy Hook conspiracy video and reposted it on twitter. I didn’t even believe it, but was so horrified at the truth that I was grasping for an alternative fiction to cling to instead. I quickly realized my mistake and took it down, but the damage was done.
By some miracle it seemingly slipped under the media’s radar, I was never asked about it so I never spoke of it again, afraid that calling attention to it would have then opposite of the intended effect – it could increase the views of those conspiracy videos, and selfishly, inform even more people I was ignorant, self absorbed, and tone deaf enough to share one in the first place.
I drafted a thousandth apology to include in my last memoir, but my publisher begged me to take it out, saying it would overshadow everything else and do more harm than good. So I convinced myself that apologizing would just reopen the wound for no other reason than me selfishly trying to make myself feel better, that I would hurt those suffering even more and possibly lead more people down the black hole of conspiracy bullshit by it being brought up again just so I could try to shake the label of being a “Sandy Hook truther”.
But honestly I deserve to be hated, labeled, detested, resented and worse for it. I deserve to lose out on every opportunity, I should have been canceled, I would have deserved it. I still do. I apologize that this came 11 years too late, but to those affected by the Sandy Hook massacre, from the bottom of my heart and depth of my soul I am so so sorry for the hurt I caused.
I can’t even begin to imagine the pain you’ve endured and words cannot describe how thoroughly remorseful and ashamed I am of myself for contributing to it. I’ve regretted it every day of my life since and will continue to do so until the day I die. And to anyone else that’s fallen down the black hole of bullshit. It doesn’t make you edgy, or an independent thinker, you’re not doing your due diligence entertaining every possibility by digesting these conspiracies.
They will only make you feel powerless, afraid, miserable and isolated. You’re doing nothing but hurting others and yourself. Regardless of how many bridges you’ve burned over it, stop digging yourself a deeper hole, don’t get wrapped up in the sunk cost fallacy, no matter how long you’ve gone down the wrong road, you should still turn back.”
WWE Superstar Ivar has undergone Stem Cell Therapy which he hopes will aid with his recovery from an injury that has kept him out for months. On Instagram, Ivar shared some photos from his recent visit to the Rejuvstem Clinic in Cancun.
Ivar has been out of action since May 2024 with his most recent match seeing him lose to Oba Femi at NXT Spring Breakin’ Week Two. On TV, Ivar’s absence was explained as due to an attack by Gallus. The faction attacked him on the May 14, edition of WWE NXT.
This setback has come at a pivotal time in Ivar’s career as his tag-team partner Erik is also out after neck fusion surgery. Rather than simply not use Ivar, as WWE has often done with tag team wrestlers who are on their own, Ivar continued to be used prominently during Erik’s absence. His performances reportedly earned him praise backstage and this singles push even saw him enter the Intercontinental Title picture.
Stem Cells & Wrestling
Several names have turned to the Rejuvstem Clinic for Stem Cell Therapy, including Big E, who has been out of action since March 2022 with a broken neck. MVP underwent treatment earlier this year and said he hopes the treatment will extend his wrestling career.
Shotzi has also taken the trip to Rejuvstem to aid with her recovery from a torn ACL suffered earlier this year as well as years of back pain. WWE Hall of Famers including Rey Mysterio, Kevin Nash, Rob Van Dam, and Adam Copeland have also undergone Stem Cell Therapy.
Stem Cells: What Are They?
Stem Cells have two main features that make them valuable in treatments such as these: they are self-replicating and can become various types of cells. Stem Cells are also considered controversial as there have been debates as to the ethics of research involving the development and use of human embryos. Not all stem cell research involves human embryos.
AEW President Tony Khan has given an update on Ricky Starks, close to five months since the former World Tag Team Champion last competed. Speaking on a media call ahead of AEW All In: London 2024, Khan was asked about Starks who last appeared in a tag-team loss on the March 30, edition of AEW Collision.
Khan called Starks a “great star” of AEW and someone who has had “great matches here.” The AEW President confirmed that Starks remains under contract with AEW and is “a well-regarded wrestler.” Khan stopped short of saying when fans should expect to see the former Tag Team and FTW Champion back in the ring.
Ricky Starks’ AEW Status
Khan’s comments come after multiple reports suggesting that Starks not only has one foot out of the door but is set to join WWE when the time is right. It has been claimed that AEW has been reluctant to use Starks as some within the company believe he is set to leave for WWE and therefore don’t want to invest in him.
The 34-year-old wrestler has reportedly drawn interest from WWE with NXT sources stating they hope to bring him to the gold brand. Starks is a good friend of WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and was spotted at last year’s Royal Rumble PLE. Rhodes is one of a handful of AEW alum to thrive in WWE, alongside Jade Cargill, NXT Champion Ethan Page, Lexis King, and Shawn Spears.
Ricky Starks is oblivious about the circumstances of why he’s spent most of 2024 on the sidelines in AEW. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Ricky Starks and whether his wrestling future is in AEW or elsewhere.
Former WWE Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns is set to reunite with WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman next month.
Bloomberg Live announced on social media that ‘The Original Tribal Chief’ and his ‘Special Counsel’ will be heading to New York and join Power Players. They will be sharing their future in the business.
It has been announced that the half-day experience will take place at Bloomberg World HQ in New York on Thursday, September 5, in conjunction with the US Open Tennis Championships. It has been advertised that the best in the business of sports will “engage in forward-thinking conversations, forge strategic partnerships, and gain insights that will empower you to stay ahead of the game.”
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman joined forces back in 2020 and established dominance for the next four years. With Heyman by his side, Reigns elevated his career and had a historic World title reign for 1,300+ days. Reigns had also inducted Paul Heyman into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame.
However, they haven’t been seen together ever since ‘The Head of The Table’ dropped his title to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. Roman Reigns went on a hiatus but Heyman was featured on the shows with the newly formed Bloodline faction under Solo Sikoa, who now claims to be ‘The Tribal Chief’. Sikoa even attacked and dismissed Paul Heyman.
At this year’s SummerSlam, Roman Reigns finally returned to make it clear that he is ‘The Original Tribal Chief.’ He laid out Solo Sikoa alongside the other members of the Bloodline. However, weeks forward, the Bloodline turned the tables to take out Roman Reigns with a brutal attack.
