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Swerve Strickland Explains How MJF Got So Good: He Wasn’t Afraid

Anutosh Bajpai
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Swerve Strickland believes MJF has nothing left to prove to anyone but the fact that he continues to work hard on his craft is a testament to his passion.

The AEW World Heavyweight Champion recently spoke to Sports Illustrated and he was specifically asked about the Salt of The Earth.

Revealing his first impression of the current American Champion, Strickland claimed that he instantly noticed the hunger the 28 year old had for getting better:

“All I remember about him was his hunger, he wasn’t afraid. That’s what set him apart–he didn’t have that fear of going wherever he needed to be to get better.”

He’ll Always Keep Working: Swerve Strickland

According to Swerve Strickland, MJF always wanted to be around great competition. He put himself around top talent since a very young age to test himself and that’s how he got good:

“I don’t think Max has anything left to prove, that’s how good he is. But he’ll never tell himself that or allow himself to believe that. He’ll always keep working.”

Swerve Strickland has a big challenge lined up for him at the upcoming All In PPV where he defends his championship against the 2024 Owen Hart Cup winner Bryan Danielson in a title vs career match.

MJF on the other hand will be challenged by Will Ospreay at the show on August 25. The current champion originally beat Ospreay for the title then known as the International Championship on the July 17 episode of Dynamite.

He then replaced the belt with a new one, calling it the American Championship. He has since defended the championship in Mexico and UK.

Latest On AEW Hosting A Stadium Event In The United States

Thomas Lowson
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More has come to light about AEW hosting a stadium-sized event in the United States, mere days ahead of their second All In pay-per-view. Fightful Select reports that GlobeLife Field Stadium is the likely contender for a stadium show in the United States. The Arlington, Texas-based venue has a capacity of over 40,000 with a retractable roof and is the home of MLB’s Texas Rangers. Building of the venue began in September 2017 and hosted its first events in May 2020.

AEW Stadium Events

Fans have been eager for a stadium-sized event in the United States for some time. So far, AEW’s only stadium show was All In: London 2023 which saw a massive, albeit contested, number of people attend London, England’s Wembley Stadium last year. AEW will return to London for All In 2024 on August 25. The first-ever international AEW Dynamite taping will take place in Cardiff, Wales that same week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcCMnPXaNoA&pp=ygUKYWV3IGFsbCBpbg%3D%3D

Hosting a stadium event in the U.S. presents both significant opportunities and challenges for AEW. While such an event would generate substantial revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and pay-per-view buys, there would be questions about whether AEW would be able to fill a stadium in the U.S. Although the company has had no issue doing that in the UK, that is helped by the fact that events of such size are exceptionally rare across the pond. AEW attendance and viewership have both seen a dip in recent years, and it remains to be seen whether a stadium show will be a runaway success or an unfortunate hiccup in the United States.

Incredible Stat About GUNTHER’s Championship Reigns In WWE

Thomas Lowson
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An incredible statistic has put into perspective just how dominant GUNTHER has been as a champion since arriving in WWE back in 2019. At WWE SummerSlam, GUNTHER captured the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, his first world title on the main roster of his career.

This is GUNTHER’s latest title reign after previously holding the NXT United Kingdom Title for 870 days and the WWE Intercontinental Title for 666 days. Since arriving in WWE, GUNTHER has spent over 75% of his run with the company with a championship. It’s an accolade very few, if any, other Superstars have reached and shows the dominance of the Ring General.

H/T to @WrestleLamia for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.

What’s Next?

GUNTHER’s first title defense as World Heavyweight Champion will see him face Randy Orton at Bash In Berlin on August 31. The two competed earlier this year in the King of the Ring finals in a match that ended in controversy. That victory for GUNTHER earned him his World Heavyweight Title opportunity at SummerSlam.

If history is any indicator, fans should expect GUNTHER to hold the gold for a very, very long time. Taking the average based on his previous two title reigns, GUNTHER will hold the World Heavyweight Championship for 768 days before he loses the gold on September 10, 2026.

Cody Rhodes Is Confident His Nephews Will Continue The Family Legacy

Thomas Lowson
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Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is confident that his nephews will enter the family business, potentially as future WWE Superstars. Speaking to Justin Barrasso for SI, Rhodes addressed his family’s legacy in wrestling and looked towards the future.

“Behind the curtain are my nephews, Dalton and Dylan. They’re close with Dustin, and to see them go from playing around to the point where now I can see it–it’s one of those things where, once you start, you can’t stop…. They’re not ready to wrestle Jacob Fatu just yet, but they’ll get there.”

Cody went on to say that the Rhodes family legacy in wrestling will not end with him, such is his confidence that a new generation of Rhodes’ will wrestle. In a nod to his WWE adversaries, the Undisputed Champion added that “We have our own Bloodline.”

The Rhodes Family

Cody is, as he’s served to remind fans multiple times, the son of Dusty Rhodes and Cody’s relationship with his father has played heavily into his WWE return and his storylines since coming back at WrestleMania 38. Cody’s half-brother Dustin is still wrestling in AEW/Ring of Honor and currently holds the ROH World Six Man Tag-Team Championships with Ross & Marshall Von Erich.

As for Dalton and Dylan, they are both currently studying at the University of Texas. Their mother is eager for the boys to finish their studies, Cody added in his interview with SI. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Cody Rhodes and the potential next generation of Rhodes’ in the ring.

AEW WrestleDream 2024 Set for Tacoma, Washington On 10/12

Thomas Lowson
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The second-ever AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view will take place at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington on October 12. Fans who are official AEW Insiders will get first access to purchase VIP experiences and presale tickets will go on sale on August 12.

The first AEW WrestleDream event took place in October 2023 after first being announced following the inaugural AEW All In: London event. Taking place one year to the day after the passing of Antonio Inoki, WrestleDream 2023 served to honor the Japanese wrestling legend and featured talent from AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling. The event also saw the AEW debut of Adam Copeland, mere weeks after his tenure as Edge in WWE came to an end.

AEW Pay-Per-Views in 2024

AEW WrestleDream will be one of five pay-per-view events set to take place in the remainder of 2024. AEW’s next pay-per-view will be All In: London and see the All-Elite roster once again take over Wembley Stadium in London on August 25. AEW All Out will take place on September 7 from the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

After WrestleDream, AEW will host its sixth annual Full Gear on November 23, from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. AEW’s final major show of the year will be the second-ever Worlds End show and will take place on December 28 from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida.

Jey Uso on Jimmy Uso’s Upcoming Return: “Wait Until You See His Greatness”

Bishal Roy
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‘Main Event’ Jey Uso has assured the fans that they are going to love it when his twin brother, Jimmy Uso returns.

Jey told Sports Illustrated that fans have only seen a few glimpses of Jimmy’s ability. He then labeled his brother the ‘funniest guy’ he knows and said that he couldn’t be hated for long. Jey teased Jimmy’s impending return and how he will show his greatness. He said:

“And people are going to love Jimmy. He’s the funniest guy I know, so much funnier than me. You’ve seen glimpses of what he can do on his own. Wait until you see his greatness. He’s up next.”

Jey also believes that the self-proclaimed ‘Tribal Chief’ Solo Sikoa, who is their younger brother deserves a beating. He said:

“Solo needs his ass whupped. There’s no doubt about that.”

The Usos are one of the greatest tag teams of all time. They were part of The Bloodline and the duo is eight-time Tag Team Champions in WWE. However, the brother tag team split last year due to their rivalry. This led to them settling the score inside the ring at WrestleMania XL. 

While Jey Uso has been striving in singles competition, Jimmy was attacked by Solo Sikoa and ousted from The Bloodline. Roman Reigns recently returned to make it clear that he is ‘The Original Tribal Chief.’ There has been speculation that there will be a Bloodline Civil War in the future and The Usos are likely to stand by Roman Reigns.

Watch: Zoey Stark Shares A ‘Perfect’ Tribute to WWE Legend Curt Hennig

Thomas Lowson
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WWE RAW Superstar Zoey Stark has delivered a perfect tribute to ‘Mr Perfect’ Curt Hennig, over two decades after the passing of the WWE Hall of Famer. On social media, Stark shared clips of herself performing several impressive feats accompanied by Hennig’s WWE theme song.

Fans will recognize this video as a tribute to Hennig, who was introduced in the World Wrestling Federation with a series of vignettes highlighting his skills in various fields. Whether it was basketball, baseball, bowling, or something else entirely, Hennig was able to accomplish feats to perfection.

Hennig’s perfect skill set in WWE would see him capture the Intercontinental Championship on two occasions and hold the gold for a combined 404 days. After joining WCW, Hennig would become WCW United States Heavyweight Champion and also held the World Tag Team Titles with Barry Windham.

Hennig sadly passed away in February 2003 at the age of 44 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007. That same year, his son Joe would sign with WWE and compete as Curtis Axel before his 2020 release. He would later return to WWE as a producer.

Zoey Stark in WWE

Stark’s tribute to Mr. Perfect comes at an interesting time in the career of the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion. Stark has aligned with Shayna Baszler and Sonya Deville as a dominant group on RAW that has been feuding with Damage CTRL. Stark was called to WWE’s main roster last year as an ally of Trish Stratus though their partnership ended at Payback 2023.

AEW Reportedly Signs ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington

Bishal Roy
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A rising talent, ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tommy Billington has reportedly inked a deal with All Elite Wrestling. Tommy’s uncle, Tom Billington was one-half of the iconic British Bulldogs and teamed up with Davey Boy Smith.

Billington, the nephew of legendary ‘Dynamite Kid’ Tom Billington has had a couple of impressive performances against Konosuke Takeshita and Dax Harwood in recent months. Since then, his status has been a matter of question within the company. Fightful has reported that “according to talent close to Tommy, they say that he’s been signed by AEW.”

The report further stated that WWE and NXT had also expressed their interest but that didn’t work out.

“The talent we spoke to also claimed there was NXT interest in the 23-year-old Billington. We asked about the whereabouts of Mark Billington, and were told that he was injured in December, during a match for Dungeon Wrestling.All Elite Wrestling has not confirmed this signing, and we’ve not heard if the deal is full-time or a tiered, per appearance deal.”

Tommy Billington is just 23 years old and he is a promising talent. He started his career in 2018 and has been competing in indie promotions including RCW, WPW, DEFY, and more. His match against Dax Harwood caught the attention of the fans as he put on a great fight but ultimately lost to the veteran.

Last month, he squared off against Konosuke Takeshita. They were involved in a great back-and-forth battle before the youngster endured another loss. Despite the defeats, he has been able to impress the fans and his future is looking bright.

Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura Talks Tim Walz, Hulk Hogan & Donald Trump

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Famer & former Governor of Minnesota Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura recently sat down with Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC to talk politics and the U.S. presidential election. Voters will go to the polls this November to elect either Vice President Kamala Harris or Former President Donald Trump as the next President of the United States.

On Tim Walz

Tim Walz is the current Governor of Minnesota and the running mate of Harris. In the interview, Ventura recalled Walz seeking his advice following his first victory in the race to be governor.

“He called me and set up a being with me to pick my brain. No other Governor has ever done that, Republican or Democrat but Tim Walz did. And what that showed me, Tim Walz is the kind of guy who’s out for success and he will reach across the aisle.”

Ventura also spoke about JD Vance’s attacks on Walz, as the running mate of Trump has accused Walz of ‘stolen valor’ despite Walz’s twenty years as an officer in the U.S. Army. Ventura explained that after twenty years, an officer can retire when they want to. Ventura added that, as a former Marine, he knows what it means to show respect to those who have served and that Vance should behave like a Marine.

On Hulk Hogan Endorsing Donald Trump

At the Republican National Convention, Hulk Hogan publicly endorsed Donald Trump and called the former President his hero. Ventura chuckled to himself as Sharpton reminded him of Hogan’s endorsement and recalled Hogan’s attempts to block Ventura’s effort to form a union in pro wrestling.

“It doesn’t surprise me to see Hogan with the Republicans because Hogan’s as anti-union as you can get… It was Hulk Hogan who ratted me out to Vince McMahon and I was fired and lost my job.”

On Donald Trump

Years before he dominated the Republican Party, Trump was part of the ‘Reform Party’ after being recruited by Ventura himself. The WWE Hall of Famer said that Trump is not the same man who came to him years ago and believes the billionaire’s politics are solely based on what benefits himself.

“Donald Trump is for Donald Trump. And Donald Trump is going to do whatever it is that supports Donald Trump… He saw that he could take over the Republican Party so he changed his views. He want from pro-choice to no rights for women’s reproductive. He’s gone far right.”

Ventura added that Trump’s claims of being a Christian man, one that is echoed by many of his supporters, are hollow.

“He’s trying to say he’s now a religious person. Well to me, if you’re going to be a religious person, you have to live it. And Donald Trump hardly lives it…. I’m an agnostic athiest and I think that I’m more religious than he is.”

Ventura suggested that Republicans would have had a far harsher response if Barack Obama had had multiple affairs while they “embrace” Trump.

AEW Rampage Surpasses WCW Thunder’s Run With 157th Episode

Thomas Lowson
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AEW Rampage has reached a milestone in its programming by eclipsing WCW Thunder for the most number of episodes. The August 9, edition of Rampage marked the show’s 157th episode, exceeding the 156 episodes of Thunder that aired before WCW closed its doors for good in March 2001.

H/T to @DrainBamager for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.

Rampage launched in the summer of 2021 as the AEW’s second Television show, following on from AEW Dynamite which launched in October 2019. At the second episode of Rampage, ironically titled ‘The First Dance’ CM Punk made his debut for AEW in his return to the world of wrestling after a seven-year absence. The show also served as the first, and only time, that Rampage would surpass 1 million viewers.

WCW Thunder debuted in January 1998, mere weeks after the promotion’s highest-rated pay-per-view, Starrcade 1997. The show originally aired on Thursday evenings, but as the Monday Night Wars turned, moved to Wednesdays in January 2000 to avoid competing with WWF SmackDown which had premiered on UPN in August 1999.

AEW Dynamite Vs. WCW Monday Nitro

With Thunder being surpassed, AEW’s next goal would be to surpass the number of episodes of WCW Monday Nitro. After launching in September 1995, Nitro lasted 288 episodes before the final episode, a simulcast with Monday Night RAW on March 26, 2001.

As of the August 7, episode, AEW Dynamite has reached 253 episodes. For Dynamite to surpass Nitro, the show will need to remain on the air for another 36 episodes, equivalent to just over eight months. Dynamite will reach that feat with the April 15, 2025, episode of Tony Khan’s flagship show.

Team USA’s Kennedy Blades Hits Epic German Suplex At Paris Olympics

Thomas Lowson
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Kennedy Blades, a competitor for Team USA, hit a suplex at this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France that would make Kurt Angle proud. During her recent match with Catalina Axente of Romania, Blades hit an impressive wrestling move.

In the comments of the above video, one fan was impressed by Blades’ “wicked German suplex” and encouraged WWE to hire her to NXT. Another fan agreed that “she needs to join WWE.” Blades won her quarter-final match with Axente and has since advanced to the finals. She will face Yuka Kagami of Japan in the finals later today.

Team USA In Wrestling

Kennedy Blades hopes to add another medal to Team USA’s already impressive collection at the Paris Summer Olympics. In wrestling, Team USA already has two gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals. In the history of wrestling at the Olympics, Team USA has accumulated 55 gold, 44 silver, and 39 bronze, the most of any nation in the history of the Games.

Kennedy Blades

Regardless of whether she wins gold later today, the future looks immensely bright for Kennedy Blades. Last month, Blades shared that she has committed to competing for the Iowa Wrestling team, stating that it’ll prove to be a fun chapter of her life.

Kennedy Blades has been one of the wrestlers to watch at this year’s Summer Olympic Games. Check out our Pro Wrestling Fan’s Guide to the Summer Olympics for all you need to know on the events in Paris, France.

Tony Khan Teasing AEW’s “Most Important Announcements” Are Coming

Thomas Lowson
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All Elite Wrestling will see some of the promotion’s most important announcements in the near future, according to AEW President Tony Khan. In a statement, Khan made his bold claim while discussing the upcoming AEW All In: London pay-per-view from Wembley Stadium. AEW’s return to the United Kingdom will take place on August 25 from Wembley and will be preceded by an AEW Dynamite taping in Cardiff, Wales.

One announcement AEW fans are awaiting is news about a new media deal for the All-Elite promotion, which is expected to come this year. Last month, it was reported that Khan and Warner Bros. Discovery had reached an agreement “in principle” regarding the future of AEW content on the media giant’s platforms. This agreement was said to be on “the middle to high side” of what the two groups were negotiating. AEW’s exclusive negotiation window with WBD ended on July 21.

Tony Khan’s Announcements

Khan has never shied away from teasing blockbuster announcements, often to mixed responses by wrestling fans. Some announcements such as the 2022 acquisition of Ring of Honor or the announcement of the first AEW All In: London event were unsurprisingly huge and delivered on the hype that’d been built in the days and weeks prior.

Other teased announcements have failed to reach expectations. In the run-up to the November 1, 2023, edition of Dynamite, a massive announcement was teased that had fans expecting a return or debuting talent. Instead, the announcement was the date that AEW All In: London 2024 tickets would go on sale, which many felt was underwhelming considering the buzz. Khan’s announcements have become something of a meme with fans, especially after AEW announced that Khan would make an announcement in June 2023.

WWE NIL Athlete Masai Russell Wins Olympic Gold By 1/100th of a Second

Thomas Lowson
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Masai Russell, an athlete who is part of WWE’s NIL program, has captured Olympic Gold at the ongoing Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. Russell won the medal in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 12.34 seconds, just 0.01 seconds faster than Cyréna Samba-Mayela of France who took silver. Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico took the bronze with a time of 12.36 seconds. This year’s games is Russell’s first time competing at the Summer Olympics.

On Twitter, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque congratulated Russell on her gold medal-earning performance in her first Olympic Games.

This isn’t the first time that Russell has impressed on the track. Back in January 2023, the 24-year-old set a new collegiate record for the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.75 seconds. This historic victory also gained the attention of WWE’s Chief Content Officer.

WWE NIL Program

The Next-In-Line program was launched in December 2021 with Russell being a part of the inaugural class of signings. The program aims at recruiting and developing college athletes into potential WWE Superstars. Those who join receive access to the WWE Performance Center as well as guidance on how to present themselves as athletes in the media and beyond. Upon graduation, athletes in the NIL program may have the opportunity to sign with WWE as full-time talent, though that is not guaranteed.

WWE’s Olympic Gold Medalists

Should Russell join WWE full-time, she will be the latest Gold Medalist under contract. Three years after winning gold (with a broken freakin’ neck!) in Atlanta, Kurt Angle made his in-ring debut at Survivor Series 1999. Gable Steveson signed with WWE in 2021 mere months after his gold medal win in Tokyo, though he has since been released. Tamyra Mensah-Stock, who also won gold in Tokyo, signed with WWE in 2023 and has reportedly been impressive in her training. Stock made her in-ring debut as Tyra Mae Steele last month at a WWE NXT live event.

Bryan Danielson Expects To Have Neck Surgery Later This Year

Thomas Lowson
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Bryan Danielson will require neck surgery before the end of the year, the American Dragon confirmed on the latest episode of AEW Collision. In a sit-down interview with Jim Ross, Danielson spoke about his career and the toll his style has had on his health.

“Odds are I’m going to have to get neck surgery before the end of this year. That’s the reality of it. And that’s kind of something that I’ve accepted is coming down the pipe relatively soon.”

Danielson’s history of neck injuries is well-documented at this stage of his career. It was these issues that resulted in Bryan being stripped of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2014 and vacating the Intercontinental Title the next year. In early 2016, Danielson was forced to retire from wrestling due to such issues though he was cleared to wrestle again two years later.

Before Danielson goes under the knife, he will compete at AEW All In in two weeks time, where he will challenge for the AEW World Championship. This match with Swerve Strickland will also see Bryan put his career on the line. Whether he wins or loses, Danielson has said this year will be his last as a full-time talent in wrestling to fulfill a promise to his family to be there for them more.

Bryan Danielson is one of the top talents in AEW, but a reign as World Champion may unfortunately be cut short if this surgery goes ahead. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on the American Dragon and his road to All In on August 25.

Finn Balor & JD McDonagh Heading to OTT Wrestling 10th Anniversary Show

Thomas Lowson
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WWE World Tag Team Champions Finn Balor & JD McDonagh will be part of Over The Top Wrestling’s 10th anniversary show this October. During the most recent event from OTT Wrestling, it was confirmed that the Judgment Day allies will be part of the October 26 show.

The upcoming event will mark Balor’s debut for the Irish-based promotion. McDonagh, as Jordan Devlin, debuted for OTT in 2014 and is a former OTT World Champion. His reign began in December 2017 and would see McDonagh retain against notable names like ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey, Timothy Thatcher, Angelico, Tyler Bate, and Zack Sabre Jr. McDonagh’s 253-day reign came to an end in August 2018 when he lost the gold to current WWE World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER.

WWE And Other Promotions

The October 26, show is WWE’s latest example of working with other promotions which has become a trend for the company in 2024. Deals with Marigold, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH has seen WWE talent compete outside their usual stomping ground. TNA Wrestling has reached an agreement with WWE NXT that has seen talent from both promotions step through the ‘prohibited portal.’

Having WWE talent at OTT’s 10th Anniversary event is a huge get for the Irish promotion and will increase interest in the show. After decades of Vince McMahon’s ‘don’t play well with others’ mentality, WWE’s willingness to collaborate with other has proven to be a breath of fresh air to fans. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on WWE working with other promotions.

AEW Collision Preview (08/10/2024): Texas Bull Rope Match and More

Jake Skudder
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All Elite Wrestling (AEW) returns to Arlington, Texas, on August 10, 2024 for tonight’s episode of AEW Collision.

The show promises some decent matchups with ALL IN just a few weeks away, including a highly anticipated Texas Bull Rope Match.

AEW Collision Matches Tonight

AEW Collision Main Event: Texas Bull Rope Match

One of the highlights of the evening will be the Texas Bull Rope Match featuring Thunder Rosa and Deonna Purrazzo.

House of Black vs. Bang Bang Gang

In another high-stakes bout, House of Black will face off against Bang Bang Gang in a #1 Contenders Match for the AEW World Trios Championships at the upcoming ALL IN PPV from Wembley Stadium.

Swerve Strickland Open Challenge

Swerve Strickland will also be in action, issuing an open challenge in an Eliminator match.

Additional Matches

The night will also feature several other exciting matches:

  • Darby Allin & Hologram vs. Premier Athletes
  • FTR vs. The Outrunners
  • Rush vs. Preston Vance
  • Hikaru Shida in action

Giulia On NXT Stand & Deliver Pop: ‘I Thought The Rock Had Shown Up!’

Thomas Lowson
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Japanese sensation Giulia was blown away by the reaction she received at NXT Stand & Deliver, which she thought must’ve been for someone else. Speaking to Creators, Giulia recalled the ovation at the NXT event over WrestleMania weekend.

 “I didn’t think they were cheering for me. When I stood up, the whole venue was like, ‘Whoaaaaaa!’ so I thought, ‘Maybe some amazing celebrity has come?’… I was like, ‘There’s no way people would cheer for me this much!’ The scale is different from Japan, and I was just like, ‘Did someone come? Dwayne Johnson?'”

Giulia’s appearance at the event came after months of reports indicating that she would be joining WWE. On the same day of Stand & Deliver, it was reported that the former STARDOM attraction had indeed signed with WWE. Before she makes the move though, Giulia has been competing in Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold promotion and will finish her time competing in Japan later this month.

Giulia In WWE

WWE reportedly intends to bring Giulia in via NXT with plans to push her strong from the very start as “the female face of the brand.” One source has claimed that Giulia’s role in NXT will surpass what Asuka achieved during her tenure which saw the Empress hold the NXT Women’s Title for 510 days.

Aside from her NXT Stand & Deliver appearance, Giulia has been referenced in WWE a handful of times already. This includes NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez claiming that she, not Giulia, is the best in the world after retaining her title over Thea Hail at Great American Bash (Week One.)

WWE’s Female Signings

Should she compete for WWE, Giulia will be part of something of a renaissance with the hiring of female talent. Stephanie Vaquer, who dethroned Giulia as NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, has signed with WWE mere days after appearing at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door. It has also been reported that DELTA has signed with WWE. The Australian wrestler reportedly impressed during tryouts in Perth over Elimination Chamber weekend in February of this year.

Latest On Jacob Henry After Second-Generation Star Signs With WWE

Thomas Lowson
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More has come to light about the WWE status of Jacob Henry following his signing with the promotion in recent weeks. Henry is on an NIL deal, Dave Meltzer reports, meaning he’ll be paid by WWE while he goes to college. Henry, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, will compete as a heavyweight for the University of Oklahoma, which Meltzer called “one of the best programs in the country. In February 2024, Jacob committed to wrestling for the University of Oklahoma.

The younger Henry will reportedly also try out for the University’s football team in the spring. If successful, Henry won’t be the first WWE name to play for the University of Oklahoma team as ‘Dr. Death’ Steve Williams played for the team before entering the squared circle.

Expectations are high for Henry who has already seen success in the world of amateur wrestling. Last month, Mark Henry said that his son plans to headline WrestleMania one day, a feat the World’s Strongest Man did not accomplish in WWE. Jacob also aspires to be an Olympic champion, his father also told TMZ, so it may be some time before we see him in a WWE ring.

WWE has seen several multi-generational Superstars reach or even eclipse their parents, with Randy Orton, Charlotte Flair, The Rock, and Roman Reigns all seeing massive success. Time will tell if Jacob Henry will join that list, but the young athlete has plenty of tools to make a name in the world of professional wrestling.

Scott D’Amore Has Spoken With Len Asper Since TNA Outing, Suggests There Are “Hard Feelings”

Thomas Lowson
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Scott D’Amore has spoken with TNA higher-ups since being unceremoniously cut from the promotion in January of this year. Appearing on the Busted Open Radio, D’Amore shared that two days before the Hard to Kill pay-per-view, he was informed that he would be replaced as TNA President.

“I was about to get on a plane, I found out kind of what was in the cards. [Anthem CEO] Len Asper and I had a chat about it. Even though I had seen some signs, it still hit me pretty hard, but I did what professionals do.”

What professionals do, as D’Amore explained in the interview, was fly to Las Vegas and do his best to make TNA Hard to Kill a success. The event marked the relaunch of TNA after years as IMPACT Wrestling and saw the debuts of Ash By Elegance and Nic Nemeth. Speaking to SE Scoops after the event, Killer Kelly said morale had been very high as the show was considered a rousing success.

Speaking With TNA

While D’Amore’s time with TNA has ended, he’s not entirely left the promotion behind. In the interview, Scott said he’s spoken with Asper, but that things are not entirely fine between the two men.

“I’ve spoken with Len Asper since then. Like as I said to him the day we talked about it, or it might have been the day the announcement went ahead, he said I hope there is no hard feelings. I said I can’t say there are no hard feelings, but there are no personal feelings.”

D’Amore has since relaunched Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling in his native Canada. The promotion will host its first two events this October and will stream live on Triller TV on pay-per-view. TNA’s Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, and KUSHIDA have been announced for these tapings, as well as former WWE World Champion Rah Dhesi.

Dwayne Johnson At Disney’s D23, Shares Moana 2 Trailer & Monster Jam Film

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson surprised attendees of D23 with an appearance to reveal the latest trailer for Disney’s Moana 2 animated film. The ‘Final Boss’ of WWE was at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and danced with others on stage.

After the performance by Johnson, fans saw the newest trailer for Moana 2 which was later shared online. Johnson, as Maui, appears half way during the trailer and delivers quips amid clips of action scenes from the film.

Moana 2 follows on from 2016’s Moana and sees Johnson return as the voice of Maui, a legendary demigod who works alongside Moana (Auli?i Cravalho) to recover a missing relic that she believes will save the people of her island. Much like its predecessor, Moana 2 takes inspiration from Polynesian myths. 

Another Moana Project

Moana 2 won’t be Johnson’s only project related to the popular Disney franchise, as he will also be starring in a live-action remake of the first film. Johnson will reprise his role as Maui, hardly a surprise given that like the demigod, he too is an impressive specimen. Catherine Laga‘aia will portray Moana herself, replacing Cravalho in the role. The live-action Moana will follow a trend of other animated projects brought to life by Disney including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Cruella. Live-action adaptations of Lilo & Stitch and Hercules are also in the works.

Johnson’s Other D23 Announcement

Dwayne Johnson wasn’t at D23 just to promote Moana 2. During the event, it was confirmed that a Monster Jam project is in the works and that The Rock will be involved.

During the conference, Johnson shared his love for motorsports and monster trucks and said he wants to create something that is “immersive and fun.” A logo was shown for the projects well as some of the trucks that’ll make up Monster Jam.

WWE Speed Women’s Title Announced, Tournament To Start Next Month

Thomas Lowson
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The women of WWE will have a new championship to compete for soon with the impending introduction of the WWE Speed Women’s Championship. A tournament will kick off on the September 4, edition of the Twitter/X exclusive show, which will premiere at the usual time of 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

In May, WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque shared that there were plans for women’s matches on episodes of WWE Speed. After the Game shared plans for women’s matches on WWE Speed, Piper Niven poked fun at the women of the company being granted only a handful of minutes for their matches.

WWE Speed sees Superstars compete in matches with a three-minute time limit, ensuring there’s no wasted time in these high-octane bouts. Title matches are given a five-minute time limit. Ricochet was the first WWE Speed Champion though he would lose the title to Andrade shortly after. The title is not present on WWE TV tapings and is exclusive to Twitter/X.

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.

Watch: What Happened With Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan After (8/9) SmackDown Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Dirty Dom got a beating after this week’s episode of SmackDown from BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma went off air.

The post-SummerSlam episode of the Blue Branded show followed up on the events coming out of the PLE, with names such as Roman Reigns making their return to the brand.

If that wasn’t enough, the audience in attendance also got to see a bonus match featuring Raw stars Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio after the broadcast ended.

The duo faced the team of Braun Strowman and Kairi Sane in a mixed tag team match and Sane ended up pinning the Women’s World Champion to win the bout for her team:

What Happened on SmackDown

The latest episode of the Friday night show was very much centered around the developments that happened during the closing moments of the SummerSlam PPV.

The opening segment featured the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes being interrupted by Solo Sikoa. Sikoa demanded a rematch for the title but Rhodes said that he had no claim over it.

When the Bloodline surrounded Cody, Kevin Owens came out to help him, sending the group retreating. The American Nightmare then offered a title shot to KO instead but he refused, saying that a title match needs to be earned.

The main event of the show again featured The Bloodline with Solo calling out Roman Reigns for costing him the world title match on Saturday. The Head of The Table made his way out and he single handedly took out the faction.

The show also featured names such as the new US Champion LA Knight, Jade Cargill and more. You can check out the full SmackDown results here.

Cody Rhodes Shares Stacked WWE Schedule for August 2024

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes will be one busy individual for the month of August as he continues to represent WWE as the Undisputed WWE Champion. Fresh off a successful title defense at SummerSlam which saw the return of Roman Reigns, Rhodes shared his WWE schedule for this month.

The American Nightmare will appear at every episode of WWE SmackDown this month, as well as seven WWE live events. Five of these untelevised events will be part of the ‘Road to Bash In Berlin’ tour that will see Cody and others compete in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany ahead of the August 31 show in Berlin. On the August 9, edition of WWE SmackDown, it was confirmed that Rhodes will defend against Kevin Owens at the event.

Rhodes will also be at the final day Fanatics Fest NYC event that will run from August 16, to August 18. The event will continue WWE’s relationship with Fanatics as the latter already produces and distributes WWE merchandise on its website. Despite appearing at the event, Rhodes will still make the WWE live event in Fort Myers, Florida that same day.

Rhodes’ busy schedule represents his desire to be a workhorse champion who is willing to represent WWE as much as he can, whether it be on PLEs, at untelevised live events, or out of the ring entirely. This reign has proven to be in stark contrast to Roman Reigns who competed just eleven times in 2023 and has had just three matches so far in 2024.

Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno Attends 8/9 SmackDown, Triple H Reacts

Thomas Lowson
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The stars came out for this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown which dealt with the fallout of an explosive WWE SummerSlam 2024 Premium Live Event. At the show in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s BOK Center, actor Lou Ferrigno was spotted in the crowd.

Ferrigno is best known for playing The Hulk in the Incredible Hulk TV series that ran from March 1978 to May 1982. The show marked the first live-action portrayal of the iconic MARVEL Comics character who has since been played by Eric Bana, Eric Norton and Mark Ruffalo.

It was a deal in 1984 between MARVEL and Titan Sports that allowed for Hulk Hogan to use the ‘Hulk’ name that the comic book giant owned. This unique situation was referenced in Marvel Comics Presents #45 (1988) when the Hulk threw a wrestler resembling Hogan off of an arena roof as the wrestler had “picked the wrong name.”

Years after playing the Hulk, Ferrigno would appear in I Love You, Man, where he would break out the Tazmission submission hold.

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Triple H Reacts

Ferrigno’s appearance at SmackDown got a loud pop from the crowd while Wade Barrett and Corey Graves fought among themselves to see who’d get the actor’s autograph first. On Twitter, Triple H was pleased that his friend made it to the show in Tulsa.

WWE SmackDown – August 9

Ferrigno had quite the view for a massive episode of SmackDown that dealt with what transpired at WWE SummerSlam. Roman Reigns returned on the show and laid waste to the New Bloodline, while Cody Rhodes rejected Solo Sikoa’s demand for a rematch. Instead, Rhodes shared that he plans to face Kevin Owens at WWE Bash In Berlin with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line. The show will take place from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany and mark WWE’s first Premium Live Event in the European country.

Major Championship Match Confirmed For WWE Bash in Berlin

Joey Galizia
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The WWE Bash in Berlin event has just been given another major title matchup.

The August 9th WWE SmackDown opened up with Cody Rhodes once again getting confronted by Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline, with Solo demanding another title shot after he lost to the American Nightmare at SummerSlam. The group approached the ring to beat down the champ, but Kevin Owens ran out and helped chase The Bloodline off.

The excitement didn’t end there. Before Owens could leave Cody told the Prizefighter that he wanted to reward him for helping him fight The Bloodline off for the last year, and offered him a title shot at Bash in Berlin. However, Owens said no, as he felt he didn’t deserve it, even though the WWE Universe disagreed.

Cody and Owens then went backstage to speak with SmackDown General Manger Nick Aldis, who told the duo that he was planning to offer the Bash in Berlin title shot to Roman Reigns. This angered Owens, who said that so many people were more deserving than Reigns, and if Aldis needed proof, he need to just look in the locker room. Aldis, impressed by KO’s fire, agreed and offered him the shot instead. This time, KO said yes.

This will be the first time Kevin Owens has challenged for the Undisputed Universal Championship since it was held by Roman Reigns during his epic run. In 2024, Owens was mainly targeting Logan Paul and the United States Championship but was unsuccessful at the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania XL.

Updated lineup for WWE Bash in Berlin:

-Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship

-GUNTHER (c) vs. Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship

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