Home Blog Page 197

TNA’s Jordynne Grace Has Pushed Back On Working With A Returning Tessa Blanchard 

0

Although Tessa Blanchard is reportedly headed back to TNA wrestling for a feud with Jordynne Grace, it doesn’t mean that Grace is thrilled with the idea. 

According to the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Tessa Blanchard has signed with TNA. Meltzer noted, “The belief is that she’ll debut in Atlanta, do a quick program with Jordynne Grace, with Grace then leaving for WWE when her current contract expires.” TNA holds Final Resolution tonight and TV tapings this Saturday from Atlanta. 

During the pandemic, Blanchard was the Impact World Heavyweight Champion, but she experienced a fallout with the promotion. This ultimately led to her being stripped of the title and her subsequent departure from Impact Wrestling. 

Following her tenure in TNA, Blanchard went to work for WOW before having a run in CMLL. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that Grace has pushed back on working with her. 

He was also told that there was a lot of talent that got word she was signing with TNA this week. Higher-ups in TNA stated they didn’t know. There have been past accusations made against Blanchard of being a racist and bully.

Gage Goldberg Says Triple H Has Offered Him A WWE Tryout

0

Gage Goldberg, son of wrestling legend Bill Goldberg, could follow in his father’s footsteps thanks to a tryout offered by Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. Speaking to Sportskeeda, the younger Goldberg shared nothing but love for WWE’s Chief Content Officer.

“I honestly love Triple H. He’s super nice to my dad, great person, very nice to my mom. I like him, honestly. He’s awesome.”

When asked if Levesque has reached out to him about trying out for WWE, Gage confirmed this is the case. Gage is currently playing for the University of Colorado under coach Deion Sanders.

Gage has yet to compete in WWE, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle. After celebrating his father’s return at Survivor Series 2016, Gage would be attacked by Bobby Lashley at SummerSlam 2021. More recently, Gage was by his father’s side when Bill Goldberg confronted GUNTHER at WWE Bad Blood 2024 in Atlanta.

With Bill Goldberg set to have his final match in 2025, fans could soon be seeing more of Gage ahead of his father’s retirement. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on both Gage and Bill as the Goldberg name remains strong in the world of WWE.

The Legends Joining Jesse Ventura For Saturday Night’s Main Event

0

The highly anticipated return of Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 14, 2024, promises a star-studded lineup of WWE legends, making it a must-watch event for wrestling fans. This weekend’s event will be held at the Nassau Coliseum, the historic venue where the inaugural Saturday Night’s Main Event aired nearly 40 years ago.

Headlining the list of legends is Jesse “The Body” Ventura, who will return to the commentary booth for the first time in years. Ventura, renowned for his sharp wit and distinctive voice, will serve as a commentator for Saturday Night’s Main Event’s quarterly specials on NBC. His return is a nostalgic highlight that fans won’t want to miss.

Jesse Ventura: “The handcuffs are off” for my WWE return

What Legends Will Be at Saturday Night’s Main Event?

A host of WWE legends are set to attend this Saturday night’s event. PWInsider reported earlier this week that WWE Hall of Famers Jimmy Hart, Tito Santana, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, and Koko B. Ware are scheduled to appear. While Ted DiBiase was initially announced, he has had to cancel his plans to attend.

Although the specific details of their roles during the event remain under wraps, their presence ensures a night filled with nostalgia and excitement for long-time wrestling fans.

Saturday Night’s Main Event is shaping up to be a celebration of wrestling history, bringing together some of the most beloved figures in the sport. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more updates on this exciting event and the stars set to make an appearance.

WWE Teases the Winged Eagle Title for Saturday Night’s Main Event

Why Tiffany Stratton the Best ‘Ms. Money In The Bank’ To Date

0

In 2005, WWE introduced the concept of Money in the Bank, and in 2017 the company introduced a women’s version of the very same concept. While its history is shorter, the women’s briefcase actually has a stronger track record for success than the men’s, as every single cash-in has yielded a new champion. By contrast, men’s cash-ins only have a seventy-six percent success rate to date.

To be fair, the first unsuccessful men’s cash-in didn’t occur until 2012, meaning the men’s briefcase was just about equally established as the women’s the first time it didn’t lead to a title change.

Despite the facts and figures at hand, history is quietly being made right now with one of the best Money in the Bank reigns of all time. Tiffany Stratton has absolutely thrived in her role holding the briefcase, waiting for her ascension to world championship glory.

Tiffany Stratton’s Coronation Feels Inevitable

Tiffany Stratton Deadline
(Photo: WWE)

Not all Money in the Bank briefcase holders are created equally. We’ve seen Mr. Money in Banks like John Cena (as the first person not to capture gold when he cashed in) and Drew McIntyre (as the most recent man to suffer the same fate)—established main eventers who didn’t need and thus didn’t feel so electric with the briefcase, and who wound up weathering big setbacks.

In contrast, there were winners like Damien Sandow or Nikki ASH—talented performers who nonetheless didn’t feel like they made a lot of sense winning the top prize in the company, such that it was disappointing but not exactly shocking when Sandow’s cash-in failed, and similarly not exactly shocking that while Nikki took the title, her ensuing reign was brief and forgettable.

Tiffany Stratton follows in a tradition of Ms. Money in the Banks like Carmella and Liv Morgan, not to mention Mr. Money in the Banks like Edge and Big E whose talents felt worthy of winning the big one, who are believably positioned to do just that in terms of their booking.

Even more so than Carmella and Morgan when they won  their ladder matches, Stratton has a certain air of inevitability around her. She’s truly the total package in combining athleticism, raw power, and technical ability with charisma and the look of a star. She’s been well protected too, such that as fans watch her carry around the briefcase, there’s a real sense of watching history—that it’s less a question of whether than when she’ll have convert that luggage to a championship belt around her waist.

Tiffany Stratton Has A Strong Storyline Going With Nia Jax

Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax appear at a press conference.
(Photo: WWE)

Money in the Bank runs can go all sorts of different ways. The history of the women’s briefcase has been littered with very quick cash-ins. In particular, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, and Liv Morgan each cashed in the same night they won the ladder match. Nikki ASH waited less than a week, and Iyo Sky was  a relatively patient Ms. Money in the Bank for waiting thirty-five days.

Only Carmella had a Money in the Bank run that could, by any measure, be considered long as two hundred eight-seven days passed before she cashed in on Charlotte Flair.

Tiffany Stratton is on course for a long briefcase run herself, as she’s already held onto it for over a hundred-fifty days. More so than idly waiting in the wings or randomly getting thwarted when she tries to cash-in at sporadic intervals, Strattons’ run has been largely defined by her angle with Nia Jax.

The duo are allies who superficially seem content to reign in their respective roles, with Tiffy even teasing cashing in on Liv Morgan instead so they could both, simultaneously be world champions. The possibility of their two-women power trip looms, though it feels more likely we’ll eventually see a betrayal. The angle has been patiently built enough that it’s conceivable it will run all the way to WrestleMania, perhaps with Stratton calling her shot in advance to finally take her title opportunity.

Tiffany Stratton’s Cash-In Teases Have Been Creative

Tiffany Stratton teases a cash-in during War Games.

Part of the fun of Tiffany Stratton’s Money in the Bank run has been the creativity of the scenarios in which she looks poised to cash-in. Yes, there have been some standard issue occurrences of her teasing she might cash-in when a champion is down. There was much more intrigue, though, wrapped up in Crown Jewel this year, with Nia Jax and Liv Morgan locked into a champion vs. champion match and tons of speculation ran rampant online about whether Stratton would or even could cash-in on both women simultaneously mid-match.

Another particularly fun cash-in tease materialized at Survivor Series as, mid-War Games, Stratton extracted her briefcase from a trash can. The moment was genuinely surprising and electric, as no one meaningfully saw it coming in, and immediate questions arose about what a cash-in in such a crowded pair of rings would look like. Would someone interrupt it? Would War Games resume after a cash-in, and, if so, would Stratton still have the faith of her teammates after stealing the title from one of them?

The cash-in didn’t actually go down, but the fun moment and big crowd response further indicated that the actual cash-in is going to be awesome.

Tiffany Stratton Herself Has Excelled At Every Turn

Tiffany Stratton delivers a moonsault.

Despite steadily playing a heel throughout her main roster run, Tiffany Stratton has grown hugely popular for her propensity for delivering highlight reel high spots, her sex appeal, and her overall talent. Case in point, she’s lived up to just about every opportunity to date with no signs of slowing down.

Long time wrestling fans have seen their share of flashes in the pan—talents who get pushes and fizzle whether it’s due to their own shortcomings or fickle management. With everything Stratton brings to the table and Triple H representing a steadier hand at the creative helm of the company, there’s a real sense that patience surrounding her Tiffy’s Money in the Bank run will pay off in an incredible future. We all have the privilege of knowing we’re probably watching a Hall of Fame career get built before our very eyes.

Legend Withdraws from Saturday Night’s Main Event (Exclusive)

0

WWE is diving head first into the nostalgia for WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event with legends reportedly on tap to appear, but some plans have changed.

Jesse Ventura is the notorious major name set to make his return to the WWE fold as his name is synonymous with the original Saturday Night’s Main Event, but a recent report from PWInsider named a list of legends set to join ‘The Body’ to the party.

In addition to “The Body,” additional legends slated to be at the Nassau Coliseum include Koko B. Ware, Greg Valentine, Tito Santana, Jimmy Hart and Ted DiBiase. However, I can confirm that Ted DiBiase will not be one of the names appearing. The Million Dollar Man had committed to appear, but he was forced to withdraw and is no longer able to attend.

Ted DiBiase and Randy Savage, WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
The Million Dollar Man headlined multiple episodes of Saturday Night’s Main Event in the 1980’s and 1990’s

Ted DiBiase and Saturday Night’s Main Event

Ted DiBiase was a fixture of Saturday Night’s Main Event during its heyday. He had memorable matches on SNME throughout his career, most notably a count-out victory over Randy Savage (March 1988) that was rated 4.5 stars by historian Dave Meltzer. Other high-profile opponents on the show included The Ultimate Warrior (1990) and Bret Hart (1991).

DiBiase last was a major presence on WWE programming down in NXT as he played a pivotal role in the feud between Cameron Grimes and a heel LA Knight. Grimes and Knight battled one another over the Million Dollar Championship before it was DiBiase who pulled a fast one on both by taking the title back. The program ultimately helped to lead LA Knight up to the main roster.

Despite a major name like DiBiase not being at SNME, WWE is going to pack a punch with the card on tap for the evening. Cody Rhodes will be defending his WWE Undisputed Championship against Kevin Owens, GUNTER will be facing Finn Balor and Damian Priest in an effort to retain his WWE World Heavyweight Championship, an inaugural WWE United States Women’s Champion will be crowned, Liv Morgan will take on IYO SKY and Sami Zayn will go one-on-one with Drew McIntyre.

Kevin Owens Explains Randy Orton’s Importance To WWE Locker Room

0

Kevin Owens has nothing but nice things to say about Randy Orton despite their recent falling out.

The former Universal Champion recently spoke to DailyMail UK to promote the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event. He discussed things such as his upcoming WWE Championship match with Cody Rhodes and more.

When asked what it’s been like working with The Viper on a personal and professional level since his return from back injury, Owens claimed that there is no one in WWE he respects more than Randy:

“On a professional level, but also a personal level, he will willingly talk about the mistakes he has made when he was younger and first starting out, because he wants to be an example of what to do and what not to do. He is very open about it and I respect him so much.”

Randy’s Respect Is Worth A Lot: Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens said that he’s seen Orton changing and maturing through his WWE tenure. He mentioned that the Legend Killer gives the credit for it to his wife and kids:

“He is just a real positive influence in our locker room. When he wasn’t here, you could feel it. When Randy Orton is around, people are on their toes more because they want Randy to respect them. Randy’s respect is worth a lot.”

The former NXT Champion also discussed how Orton has signed a new WWE deal recently and said that they need guys like Randy to stick around as a positive influence on talents coming from the developmental.

TNA Final Resolution 2024: Final Card, How to Watch

0

TNA Wrestling presents Final Resolution 2024 this Friday night, streaming live on TNA+. The event takes place from a sold-out Center Stage in Atlanta, GA and has a run time of approximately 3 hours.

The 13th Final Resolution features the company’s biggest stars in action, including TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth, Tag Team Champions Matt & Jeff Hardy, X-Division Champion Moose, Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich and more.

Final Resolution 2024 Preview

TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs. AJ Francis

TNA Knockouts Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs. Tasha Steelz

TNA X-Division Championship: Moose (c) vs. KUSHIDA

TNA World Tag Team Championship Tables Match: The Hardys (Matt Hardy & Jeff Hardy) (c) vs. The System (Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards)

#1 Contender Match for TNA World Championship: Joe Hendry vs. Josh Alexander vs. Mike Santana vs. Steve Maclin

Additional Matches

  • Jordynne Grace vs. Rosemary
  • Ace Austin vs. Trent Seven
  • Frankie Kazarian vs. Jonathan Gresham (Pre-show match)

How to Watch Final Resolution 2024

About TNA+: TNA+ is a premium subscription service from TNA Wrestling. A paid subscription ($9.99/month, $219.99/year) gives you access to all exclusive live specials, new live episodes of TNA Impact every week and more.

Final Resolution 2023 Results

Let’s look back at last year’s Final Resolution, which took place on December 9, 2023, at the Don Kolov Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Historical Significance: This event marked the final company special before it rebranded to TNA Wrestling in January 2024.

Pre-Show Matches:

  • PCO defeated Jessie V
  • Jack Price defeated Aiden Prince
  • Frankie Kazarian defeated Sheldon Jean

Main Card:

  • ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey) retained the Impact World Tag Team Championship by defeating Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers
  • Jody Threat defeated Alisha Edwards
  • Tommy Dreamer retained the Digital Media Championship by defeating Deaner
  • Mike Bailey & Trent Seven defeated The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz)
  • Jake Something defeated Jason Hotch
  • Moose defeated Rhino in a Street Fight
  • Trinity & Jordynne Grace defeated Deonna Purrazzo & Gisele Shaw
  • Josh Alexander & Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) in the main event

WWE SmackDown Preview (12/13): Tournament Semifinals

0

WWE SmackDown emanates from the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut this Friday night, serving as the final stop before the historic return of Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Announced Matches for SmackDown (December 13, 2024)

  • Women’s U.S. Title Tournament Semifinal: Bayley vs. Chelsea Green
  • Women’s U.S. Title Tournament Semifinal: Michin vs. Tiffany Stratton
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Mystery Opponent

The winners of the tournament semifinals on SmackDown will advance to the finals at SNME to crown the inaugural WWE Women’s Untied States Champion.

Chelsea Green Already Has Ideas For Women’s US Championship

Additionally, tensions are expected to reach a boiling point between WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens ahead of their championship clash on Saturday.

Stay tuned to SEScoops this weekend for complete coverage of WWE SmackDown on the USA Network and Saturday Night’s Main Event, simulcasting live on NBC and Peacock from the historic Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Top Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:

Drew McIntyre Storms Off Set After Bashing Social Media Critics

0

Drew McIntyre recently lashed out at the social media critics in an epic mic drop moment which stunned everyone.

During his recent appearance on the Busted Open Holiday Party live stream, McIntyre said that he realized he missed some crucial moments with his family as he was focusing on his wrestling career. However, he made it clear that he is taking everything back. He said:

“I gave and gave and gave, but as far as wrestling on TV is concerned, I’m going to take and take and take.”

He added:

“The lack of contact and the look on my family’s face, realizing everything that I’ve missed—that’s why I’m just going to take from now on.”

‘The Scottish Warrior’ also believes that fans forget the superstars who retire and they move on. He feels the same will happen to him. He said that he doesn’t care about the opinions of the fans on social media. He then stormed off the set and dropped the mic in a dramatic fashion. He said:

“When I leave this industry, I won’t be one of those guys chasing that last paycheck, chasing that last shot of glory. Please remember me? No. When I leave and retire, I will have accomplished everything. It doesn’t matter if you’re Mark Henry, Bully Ray, Tommy Dreamer, Drew McIntyre, or Stone Cold Steve Austin—when you’re gone, they move on. They forget. It sucks, but it’s true. So, As far as I’m concerned, when it comes to the internet, I don’t give a f*** about your opinion.”

Drew McIntyre also took to social media and dropped the footage of the incident with a profane caption.

Following his recent return from hiatus, Drew McIntyre attacked Jey Uso and Sami Zayn, believing the duo sold out to help Roman Reigns at Survivor Series: WarGames 2024. Zayn challenged McIntyre to a match and the former WWE Champion will face him at this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Triple H Names NBA Stars That Would Flourish In WWE

0

Triple H believes that a few NBA stars would be a slam dunk for WWE. The Chief Content Officer sat in with the New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and “The Roommates Show” to talk a little pro wrestling.

During the show, Triple H and the gang discussed what NBA stars would completely excel in a WWE ring. ‘The Game’ said the first person of ‘who got game’ was the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid.

“Joel for sure. Obviously, everybody’s a big dude, but like [he’s] sort of a big dude and has the personality to go with it.”

The other host on the show said that Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler would be a lot like CM Punk because he does what he wants to. Triple H then asked about Trae Young, the scrappy point guard from the Atlanta Hawks. Hunter saw heel potential in Young.

“When I went and did the stuff with Joel he was playing and he seemed like an irritant to everybody.”

Embiid is a big WWE fan and he was notorious for doing the DX crotch chop during an NBA game. Young did play a heel role when he stepped foot into Madison Square Garden for an episode of WWE SmackDown back in 2021. Young got himself involved in a 10-man tag team match. Young said the following to GQ back during that time.

“They wanted me to come out, show some “love” to the crowd, and just have some fun. It was such a cool idea. I was a fan when I was a kid and my little brother watched it a bit, so he told me I had to do it when they called. The fans weren’t too happy to see me but it was a cool experience.”

AEW Collision Spoiler: Taping Results Airing 12/14

0

AEW taped the December 14 ‘Winter is Coming’ special of Saturday Night Collision this Thursday, December 12 from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, MO. The show featured Toni Storm in action after she returned to the company earlier this week. Below are the complete spoilers for the show:

Backstage Segment: Darby Allin approached Will Ospreay and asked for his help in defending AEW. Ospreay said he needed momentum from winning the C2. He’d step into the war with Darby once he was done.

International Women’s Cup Qualifier Singles Match: Willow Nightingale def. Jamie Hayter: Nightingale pinned Hayter to advance to Wrestle Dynasty. The lights went out after the match. Julia Hart appeared when the light came back and she attacked Hayter.

Continental Classic Blue League Match: Kazuchika Okada def. The Beast Mortos: The Continental champion picked up the win with The Rainmaker.

Singles Match: Toni Storm def. Shazza McKenzie: After the match, Storm cut a promo and said she’s ‘All Elite’

Tag Team Match: Action Andretti & Lio Rush def. Top Flight: Leila Grey was in Top Flight’s corner for the match. She was knocked out during a dive spot, allowing Andretti and Rush to take advantage and win the match.

Singles Match: Kris Statlander def. Tootie Lynn

10 Men Tag Team Match: Orange Cassidy, The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd), Komander & Daniel Garcia def. MxM Collection (Mason Madden & Mansoor), Ari Daivari, Josh Woods & Tony Nese (w/ Mark Sterling)

Continental Classic Blue League Match: Mark Briscoe def. Kyle Fletcher: Briscoe pinned Fletcher for the win.

AEW recently also confirmed two new matches for the Worlds End PPV later this month. You can check out more about it here.

Athena vs. Billie Starkz Made Official For ROH Final Battle 2024, Updated Card

0

The long-anticipated ROH Women’s Championship rematch between Athena and Billie Starkz has finally been made official for the upcoming Final Battle PPV.

The Final Battle event holds special importance for the current champion as her historic reign began at the 2022 edition of the show. She successfully defeated her former protege Starkz in a match during the 2023 edition of the ROH PPV to retain the title.

The two have continued feuding since then with Athena surpassing Samoa Joe to become the longest reigning title holder in ROH history in September this year.  The upcoming match which was made official during the December 12 episode of ROH TV on Honor Club will bring the storyline between the two female stars to a full circle.

ROH Final Battle 2024 Updated Card

During the same episode, it was also announced that Jay Lethal will be returning to the brand at the upcoming PPV to face QT Marshall. Below is the updated card for the show:

  • ROH Women’s TV Championship Match: Red Velvet (c) vs. Leyla Hirsch
  • ROH World Heavyweight Championship Match: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Matt Cardona
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship Match: The Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara) (c) vs. The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch)
  • Singles Match: Jay Lethal vs. Q. T. Marshall
  • ROH Women’s Championship Match: Athena (c) vs. Billie Starkz

Final Battle 2024 will be taking place from the Hammerstein Ballroom on Friday, December 20, 2024.

Triple H Claims He Pitched The Montreal Screwjob To Vince McMahon

0

Triple H played a crucial role in the Montreal Screwjob, going as far as to put forth the idea, according to WWE’s current Chief Content Officer.

The infamous moment at Survivor Series 1997 saw Bret Hart lose the WWF Championship to Shawn Michaels, despite not submitting to the Sharpshooter. The plan, as shared to Hart, was for the match to end in a no-contest, and the Canadian would vacate the title the next night on WWF Raw before departing for WCW.

On The Roommates podcast, the Game recalled the meeting backstage between Michaels and Vince McMahon, who feared Hart would refuse to give up the gold. With Hart refusing to lose to Michaels in Canada, it was Triple H who put forward that Hart should do ‘business’ one way or another.

“I was the least important person in the room at the time, but I just said, ‘F*** that, if he won’t do business, do it for him.‘ That started a conversation that led to the Montreal screw job.”

The act would sour Hart’s relationship with WWE, which would also be damaged following his brother Owen’s tragic passing at Over the Edge 1999. Outside of a Hall of Fame appearance in 2006, it wouldn’t be until January 2010 that Hart would make a return.

Bret Hart & Triple H Reunite At WWE Raw

Nowadays, Hart makes occasional appearances for WWE, including earlier this year in his native Canada. Nevertheless, the Montreal Screwjob will forever be a mark on the Hitman’s career, for which he has WWE’s Chief Content Officer to thank.

Spoiler: Multiple Legends Booked For Saturday Night’s Main Event

0

WWE is looking to create a retro vibe for the return of Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend and their efforts include bringing in a number of legends for the show.

The company previously confirmed that legendary wrestler and broadcast personality Jesse Ventura will be returning to commentary for the upcoming event.

Now PWInsider is reporting that the former Minnesota governor is not the only big name booked for the night. According to them, names such as Ted Dibiase, Jimmy Hart, Tito Santana, Greg Valentine, and Koko B. Ware will also be in attendance at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The inclusion of legendary names is a tradition the company has re-established in recent times. Many WWE veterans attended the recent SmackDown 25th anniversary special while a number of hardcore legends were brought in when NXT emanated from the 2300 Arena.

The upcoming show is not only expected to feature talents from the past but Triple H and Cody Rhodes have also teased bringing back a classic title belt for one night only during the show.

The return of Saturday Night’s Main Event will be headlined by Cody defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against former friend Kevin Owens. You can check out our predictions for the show here.

Triple H: Celebrities Are Lining Up For WrestleMania 41 Role

0

There’s no shortage of celebrities wanting to be a part of WWE WrestleMania 41 in April of next year, according to WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. On The Roommates Show, Levesque shared that the 2025 two-night event has caught the attention of those outside of the world of pro wrestling.

“I have a celebrity list a mile long for people that want to do something for WrestleMania in Vegas. We just don’t have the real estate to do it with them, so we’ll pick the biggest ones.”

Using celebrities that “make sense storyline-wise” will also factor into Levesque’s decision-making process and it’s “incredible” just how many stars want to be involved. Next year’s show will be Levesque’s second time having full control over WWE’s most significant show of the years. WrestleMania 40 was the Game’s first time having full control of the show, following Vince McMahon’s resignation from WWE in January 2024.

Celebrity involvement in WrestleMania has been the case since the first event in 1985, which saw megastars including Liberace and Muhammad Ali participate on the show. At this year’s event, Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson got involved with the show, while Lil Wayne performed ahead of the Jey Uso Vs. Jimmy Uso showdown.

Drew Barrymore, Jake Paul & All The Celebrities Who Were At WrestleMania 40

It remains to be seen which celebrities have a role to play at WrestleMania 41, but the show won’t be lacking in star power. WWE WrestleMania 41 will take place on April 19, and April 20, from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will be WWE’s first WrestleMania to stream on Netflix for fans outside the United States.

Reason For Gunn Club’s Absence From AEW TV

0

The duo of Austin and Colten Gunn have not been seen on AEW TV in the last few months and reports suggest there is good reason for it.

The brothers, collectively known as Gunn Club last wrestled together during the September 14 episode of AEW Collision where they teamed up with Juice Robinson.

Hangman Page took credit for taking out Austin Gunn during the October 23 episode of Dynamite. He was confronted by the rest of the Bang Bang Gang including Colten in the segment but the second generation star has not been seen on TV since then.

Fightful Select is now reporting that multiple people on AEW roster have confirmed that Austin Gunn has actually been sidelined with an injury. Colten has been kept off TV because of his brother’s status.

The duo also provided a brief update on their status during a recent Highspots Virtual Signing. Austin claimed that the former AEW tag champions will be ‘back soon.’ He also asked fans to continue supporting the company during their absence.

Austin is not the only Bang Bang Gang member who is sidelined with an injury. Juice Robinson was recently replaced in the ongoing Continental Classic tournament after suffering a leg injury.

Jay White is the only member of the faction that is currently active on the roster. He is scheduled to challenge Jon Moxley for the AEW World Title at the Worlds End PPV in a fatal four-way match.

WWE’s Rhea Ripley Hits Back At Viral AI McDonald’s Meme

0

WWE Superstar Rhea Ripley has fired back at an ongoing meme about careers in McDonald’s, asking “Who’s the joke really on?” The meme sees AI-created images of notable names dressed as employees of the fast-food chain. On X, Ripley argued that the idea of making people look bad for working at McDonald’s didn’t hold much weight.

The response to this latest viral social media trend has been mixed. While some find it funny, others, such as Ripley, see it as an attempt to mock working people. In the comments several fans agreed with Ripley’s response, appreciating those who work in a job to earn an honest living.

On WWE TV, Ripley has been continuing her feud with Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan, though won’t be the Judgment Day star’s next challenger. Instead, Morgan will defend her title at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event this weekend against IYO SKY. This week’s Raw went off the air with both Morgan and SKY clutching the Women’s World Championship, as both women have their sights on the Women’s World Title.

Rey Mysterio Will Retire When The Fans Decide He Should

0

It’ll be up to the fans to decide when Rey Mysterio will retire from the ring, according to the WWE Hall of Famer/former World Heavyweight Champion. This week, Mysterio reunited with Kurt Angle to watch their Saturday Night’s Main Event match from 2006, where the WrestleMania 22 opponents teamed with Randy Orton to face Triple H and John Cena. When Angle asked Kurt about his retirement plans, Mysterio shared that the final decision wasn’t up to him.

“Well, I’ll let the fans decide.”

Mysterio turned 50 years old this week and has spoken multiple times about retirement in the past. These include:

While Rey has spoken a lot about retiring, the masked legend signed a new five-year deal with WWE in late 2023, which should keep him with the promotion until the end of 2028. When that contract does expire, Mysterio will be 54, far past his previously planned retirement age.

Stau tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Rey Mysterio, as the Hall of Famer continues to carve his legacy in the ring before he hands up his boots and mask for good.

Shelton Benjamin Discusses Reaction To His AEW Debut

0

Shelton Benjamin was very happy and grateful for the reaction of his AEW debut.

After surprisingly being released from his WWE contract in September 2023, Benjamin returned to the independent circuit. Following many months of rumors, he finally made his AEW debut during Five Year Anniversary special of Dynamite.

Speaking about his arrival in Tony Khan’s promotion on AEW Unrestricted podcast, the former US Champion noted that even 2 decades after his debut, he gets flattered when someone recognizes him:

“You know, having done this for so long — to this day, any time someone even recognizes me in the street, I’m honestly very flattered. So to have that reaction, especially [from] the AEW crowd, you know, being a quote-unquote ‘former WWE guy,’ I was humbled. I was overjoyed.”

It Was Very Heartwarming: Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin’s AEW debut came in a relatively quiet manner. He made his first appearance for the company in a backstage interview segment where MVP introduced him as his business partner.

Despite not getting a big spot, the fans were excited for the Gold Standard and there was a big pop when he was first shown on screen. According to the former WWE star, before the segment he was worried about how the fans would react:

“I was actually kind of worried about how the reaction would be. But like I said, the fans have stuck by me through thick and thin all these years. And it was very heartwarming is the best way I could put it. Because I really appreciate it, and I loved it, and I could rewatch that moment over and over and over.”

After wrestling in a couple of physical matches, Shelton Benjamin has been thrown into the deep end by AEW officials as one of the participants in the ongoing Continental Classic tournament. With a win and a loss each in the blue league, he currently holds three points in the competition.

Kevin Owens Wants Finn Balor To Have A Second World Title Run

0

Kevin Owens is all about Finn Balor getting a second go-around with a world championship and both men will have their shot this Saturday.

Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Kevin Owens backed his fellow heel Balor in hopes that he’d win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against GUNTHER in Saturday Night’s Main Event. ‘The Ring General’ and ‘The Demon’ are in a triple threat with Damian Priest, but Owens is an advocate for Balor and gives good reason.

“If you’re asking me what my perfect scenario would be for Saturday night. I wanna see Finn Balor win the World Heavyweight Championship. I wanna win the WWE title.” Owens said. “Just on a personal level for both of us, we’ve been friends since the moment we got to WWE together at the same time. [We’ve gotten] very close. I really do consider him like a brother. I would just love to share that with him.”

Balor ended up becoming the inaugural WWE Universal Champion when he defeated Seth Rollins at SummerSlam back in 2016. However, Balor injured his shoulder and was ultimately stripped of the title.

As for Owens, he’ll be challenging Cody Rhodes for the WWE Undisputed Championship on Saturday Night’s Main Event, but did previously share a major regret he had during his own first world championship run in WWE.

In his new heel role, KO has gone “underground” on SmackDown programming as WWE has found creative new ways to feature ‘The Prizefighter’ as he’s committed nefarious actions to warrant him off the SmackDown brand.

Paul Heyman Believes Cody Rhodes Has Surpassed Dusty

0

Paul Heyman sees Cody Rhodes for the star that he is and thinks he has paved a new road for the Rhodes family.

Heyman spoke with Shakiel Mahjouri of CBS Sports and gave some very interesting comments regarding one of pro wrestling’s royal families. Dusty Rhodes broke the mold of how one envisioned a top star in pro wrestling. He redefined how the business operated and how talent used a microphone to draw crowds. Now his son Cody has his own story to tell, hearkening back to the classic Boy Scout babyface and fans have latched onto him, both from a star power standpoint and a merchandising standpoint.

Heyman believes that Cody’s past three years of work as a top talent has allowed ‘The American Nightmare’ to surpass ‘The American Dream.’

“When Cody Rhodes first came back here, we all had the same sentence we gave in the press conferences. ‘How can you look at Cody and not think of Dusty? To Cody’s indescribably massive credit, I think now is the point in history that we’re realizing that Dusty Rhodes is Cody Rhodes’ father. 

“Cody Rhodes is the bearer of the family name that drives the most interest and is now the most famous. If you would have told someone that three years ago, they would have thought you were nuts.”

Some older fans may take exception to such claims, but Rhodes’ merchandise sales could really make the case for Heyman’s viewpoint. Paul also said he has yet to see Cody have a ‘lackluster’ performance in WWE, further perpetuating Cody’s ‘Do The Work’ mantra.

Paul Heyman Calls Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Win The Right Move

Heyman’s beliefs regarding Cody and his daddy Dusty weren’t the only validation he gave the current WWE Undisputed Champion. He firmly believes that pitting Roman Reigns against Rhodes for the WrestleMania 40 main event was the right move, moreso against the expected battle between Reigns and The Rock.

“That was the rightful main event of WrestleMania 40 because the audience had a two-year investment in that story and lived it… They lived it not only by witnessing and experiencing it, but they lived it many times through the eyes of the protagonist and the struggles he had to endure and survive and thrive through all with his chin up and a progressive move forward attitude.”

That’s a good deal of babyface talk from the former ECW proprietor and Heyman finds himself currently in a fresh babyface role on WWE programming.

Adam Copeland Nominated For An Emmy For ‘Percy Jackson’

0

Adam Copeland is laying the groundwork for an EGOT. The former Edge received some big news on Thursday as the Children’s & Family Emmys nominations for 2024 were announced. Copeland got a hat tip for his work as the Greek god Ares on Percy Jackson and The Olympians.

The series airs on Disney+ and Copeland will be going up against fellow nominees Amanda Lawrence for Malory Towers, Elizabeth Mitchell in The Santa Clauses, Sarah Rafferty in The Walter Boys, Eric Stonestreet in The Santa Clauses and his late co-star Lance Reddick for his portrayal as Zeus.

Percy Jackson happened to lead all series this year with a total of 16 nominations and it gets Copeland back into the news cycle while he’s recovering from injury. Despite that, Copeland has remained a proactive and positive force in his community by helping his North Carlonia neighbors recover from the effects of hurricane damage.

Adam Copeland’s Acting Background

While Copeland may be best known as a WWE Hall Of Famer, his resume impressively expands outside of the squared circle. Copeland’s acting resume is rock solid as he previously starred in Vikings, Haven, and even played Atom Smasher in The Flash.

Copeland said a few weeks back in an interview that he’s ready to get back to work after his “brain forgot” that he’s 51 and he took a 21-foot cage dive.

Before getting hurt, Copeland had a memorable run with the TNT Championship and feuded with his longtime partner Christian Cage. Copeland first debuted in AEW back at WrestleDream 2023.

Dark Side Of The Ring Season 6 Premieres March 25 on Vice

0

Dark Side of the Ring is a popular documentary series that delves into the controversial, untold, and often tragic stories from the world of professional wrestling. 

Produced by Vice TV, the show has earned critical acclaim for its in-depth storytelling, emotional interviews, and exploration of wrestling’s darker and more human elements. The series features wrestlers, their families, and industry insiders recounting personal experiences, providing rare insight into the often tumultuous lives behind the larger-than-life personas.

It was announced through Deadline.com that the series would be returning for another season. The show’s X account announced the season six premiere for March 25th, 2025.

Notable Episodes of Dark Side of the Ring

Some of the most talked-about episodes include:

“The Killing of Bruiser Brody”: Examining the murder of wrestling legend Bruiser Brody.

“The Montreal Screwjob”: A deep dive into the infamous incident involving Bret Hart, Vince McMahon, and Shawn Michaels.

“Chris Benoit”: A two-part episode about the career and tragic double-murder-suicide involving Benoit and his family.

“The Plane Ride from Hell”: Chronicling an infamous incident involving WWE talent during a chaotic flight in 2002.

The series has spawned spinoffs and inspired similar projects, solidifying its place as a must-watch for wrestling enthusiasts and documentary fans alike. 

Carlos Silva is the New President of TNA Parent Company Anthem

0

Carlos Silva has been named the new President of Anthem Sports Group, and will oversee the operations of TNA Wrestling going forward. In his role, Silva will answer directly to Anthem President and CEO Leonard Asper. In a statement, Silva shared his excitement for this new chapter.

“Anthem Sports Group’s diverse offerings represent a wide range of exciting opportunities for growth and development. TNA Wrestling, Invicta FC, and Fight Network are each poised to make a major impact in their respective arenas.”

Before joining Anthem, Silva has worked with several sports properties, including the World Series of Fighting/Professional Fighters League. Outside of the ring, he has worked for the Universal Sports Network, and WorldTeamTennis among other parties.

Silva’s appointment ends what has been a dramatic year for TNA Wrestling, both on and off-screen. In January, the company relaunched after years as Impact Wrestling, with the Hard to Kill pay-per-view being praised by fans. 2024 has also seen TNA embark on a partnership with WWE NXT which has seen a talent exchange across both sides.

Behind the cameras, Anthem’s termination of Scott D’Amore shortly after Hard to Kill was heavily criticized, as D’Amore had helped steer TNA through turbulent times. TNA’s roster even crafted a letter to Anthem, encouraging the company to reconsider, but to no avail. D’Amore, a veteran of wrestling for decades, was replaced by Anthem’s own President at the time Anthony Cicione, a move that only furthered tensions.

Scott D’Amore Talks “Hard Feelings” After TNA Ousting By Anthem

Now, it’ll be Carlos Silva who takes the reigns as Anthem President, a role that’ll see him work closely with TNA Wrestling as well as Anthem’s other properties. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from TNA, including this week’s Final Resolution event.

Darby Allin Reveals Profound Motivation For Climbing Mount Everest

0

Darby Allin believes his trip to Mt. Everest is going to be like therapy for him.

The former TNT champion will be looking to scale the unforgiving mountain next year. He originally planned to make the trip this year but a broken foot forced him to postpone his plans. The daredevil star, however, remains as motivated for the climb as ever and he continues to talk about it every chance he gets.

During a recent interview with Flickering Myth, Allin was asked to describe a quality about him that might surprise people. The former Champion revealed that despite his psychotic nature, he spends a lot of time meditating:

“People think I’m such a psychopath but I’m saying maybe some people will be surprised that I like to meditate all the time. I think that’s because people are like ‘Oh how can someone be so psychotic and so peaceful at the same time.’

I feel like there’s like definitely a balance that I like to do with my meditation and my psycho-ness but I don’t know. I think a lot of people would be surprised with that.”

That’s The Most Fun: Darby Allin

Darby Allin then revealed that his quest to climb Mount Everest is related to his desire for inner peace. According to him, the prospect of spending a couple months alone with his thoughts is very appealing to him:

“That’s why like Mount Everest is so peaceful, the thought of like climbing it. Because when you’re climbing it, you can’t just talk, you can’t waste any energy talking. So it’s just you and your thoughts for like two months climbing that mountain.

So you gotta dig deep down inside and really pull out who you are. From a day-to-day life, you have all these distractions whether it’s your phone or whether it’s TV or whether it’s anything [else] but when you’re alone with your thoughts, that’s when you really find out who you are.

You can deal with a lot of problems that you have in your head when you just have to bear with it and you can’t distract yourself. So I think that sounds, that’s the most fun thing about Mount Everest – it’s very therapeutic.”

The AEW star also talked about the fan following he has cultivated since joining Tony Khan’s promotion and explained why he doesn’t like being called a superstar.