UFC legend/WWE alum Cain Velasquez will not stand trial after pleading no contest to the charges against him regarding a 2022 incident. Velasquez was charged with first-degree attempted murder, multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and shooting an occupied motor vehicle, among other charges. As part of his plea, Velasquez “will be convicted but not subject to a mandatory life sentence after premeditation allegations were dropped in accordance with a plea agreement with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office,” the East Bay Times reports.
Velasquez was arrested after opening fire at a vehicle carrying Harry Eugene Goularte, driven by his stepfather, Paul Bender. Bender was struck by a bullet fired by Velasquez and was hospitalized with non-threatening injuries. Goularte had been charged with molesting an underage relative of Velasquez at a home daycare center run by his mother. This case is ongoing.
Cain Velasquez And Pro Wrestling
After retiring from MMA in 2019, Velasquez turned his attention to wrestling and worked a few Lucha Libre AAA shows before signing with WWE that year. Velasquez’s sole WWE match saw him lose to UFC rival Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel 2019. Lesnar, who had won the WWE Title shortly before the event, lost to Cain at UFC 121 in October 2010.
Velasquez was released from WWE in April 2020 as part of ‘budget cuts’ stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Velasquez returned to pro wrestling in 2021, working a match at Lucha Libre AAA’s Triplemania Regia event in December of that year. Velasquez also wrestled in December 2022 but has not competed since.
Note: This article contains spoilers for the August 27, edition of WWE NXT
A WWE NXT Superstar was left a bloodied mess at the recent tapings of WWE NXT for the episode that will be broadcast next week. In a tag-team match, Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne took on Meta-Four’s Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend. During the match, Henley suffered a nose injury, Corey Brennan of Fightful reports.
Henley at the taping for next week’s WWE NXT.
Henley was “bleeding badly” from her nose but was able to finish the match. The match saw interference by Jazmyn Nyx and Henley and Jayne hit a double-team move on Lash Legend to win the match. On this week’s WWE NXT, the trio of Jayne, Nyx, and Henley spoke about their alliance and were dubbed ‘Fatal Influence.’ WWE filed a trademark on the term earlier this month.
“We are the example. We are the leaders. We are the Fatal Influence."
This injury is an unfortunate setback for Henley, who has been a part of WWE NXT since 2021. She turned heel for the first time in her career during April’s Spring Breakin’ event earlier this year, attacking Thea Hail after her victory over Jayne. Henley’s turn has been explained as like Jayne, she has taken exception with ‘rookies’ getting opportunities in NXT, though the pair have made an exception for Nyx.
Henley is a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion as she and Kiana James won the gold at NXT Vengeance Day in February 2023. The pair held the gold until NXT Stand & Deliver that April, where they lost to Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
Premier League soccer team AFC Bournemouth is stepping in the ring with WWE 2K in an epic collaboration between the two parties. In the coming weeks, fans can expect AFC Bournemouth-themed content to debut in WWE 2K24. Rob Mitchell, Commercial Director at AFC Bournemouth, shared his excitement about the partnership:
“This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with our fans through a new, innovative platform. The synergy between WWE 2K’s engaging gameplay and the vibrant spirit of Premier League football is sure to create an unforgettable experience.”
Bryce Yang, Senior Director of Franchise and Partnerships Strategy at 2K, echoed this enthusiasm:
“The partnership between WWE 2K and AFC Bournemouth represents a dynamic fusion of two exciting sports worlds. We’re excited to see this collaboration succeed and confident it will bring a new level of entertainment to fans.”
Wrestling & Soccer
WWE isn’t the only major wrestling promotion to form a partnership with a Premier League soccer team. News of this collaboration with AFC Bournemouth comes mere days after AEW reached a deal with Fulham Women FC to serve as the front-of-kit sponsor of the team.
Fulham is owned by Tony Khan’s father Shahid Khan and the AEW President has a prominent executive role with the team. With the new season kicking off earlier this month, AFC Bournemouth will face the men’s Fulham team on December 29, and once more on February 12, 2025.
Want to stay in the loop about all things WWE 2K as well as other video games? Check out our Gaming hub to make sure you don’t miss a second of the action!
Joe Hendry is heading to NXT No Mercy to face WWE NXT Champion Ethan Page after winning a high-stakes triple threat match this week. Hendry emerged victorious over Pete Dunne and Wes Lee to earn the title match at the upcoming NXT PLE.
At ringside, Ethan Page went to great lengths to avoid facing Joe Hendry, including pulling the referee out of the ring when Hendry appeared to have the match won. Later, after Hendry slammed Wes Lee onto the announce table and delivered another Standing Ovation to Pete Dunne, Page actively prevented a second referee from entering the ring.
The match’s finish saw Dunne Hendry with a Bitter End, but Trick Williams ran into the ring and hit a Trick Shot knee on Dunne. Hendry would follow up by getting the pinfall and the title match with Page.
This upcoming match will mark the first time a male TNA-contracted competitor will challenge for a WWE Championship in the main event of a WWE Premium Live Event. Earlier this year, Jordynne Grace (already the TNA Knockouts World Champion) challenged NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez at NXT Battleground.
WWE NXT No Mercy
NXT No Mercy will take place on September 1, 2024, from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, the day after WWE Bash In Berlin. The show will be the second NXT No Mercy event and the 15th No Mercy show in WWE history. The card as it stands is as follows:
Ethan Page (c) vs. Joe Hendry (NXT Championship)
Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Jaida Parker (NXT Women’s Championship)
Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Wendy Choo (NXT Women’s North American Championship)
Oba Femi (c) vs. Tony D’Angelo (NXT North American Championship)
Chase University (Andre Chase and Ridge Holland) (c) vs. Nathan Frazer and Axiom (NXT Tag Team Championship)
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on WWE NXT No Mercy.
WWE Superstar Liv Morgan was at The Crow premiere Tuesday night at Village East Cinema in New York City. The reigning Women’s World Champion flaunted her title as she walked the red carpet and posed for eager photographers. Morgan recently signed with Paradigm talent agency.
The Crow, in theaters this Friday (8/23), is a reboot of the 1994 cult classic and directed by Rupert Sanders. Bill Skarsgård portrays Eric Draven, a musician resurrected to avenge his and his fiancée Shelly’s murders, played by FKA Twigs.
Mercedes Moné promises to elevate women’s wrestling again, and we’ll see the next ‘phase’ of her plan this Sunday at All Out. Speaking in her Moné Mag newsletter, the AEW TBS Champion invoked the Four Horsewomen of NXT. “Charlotte, Bayley, Becky, and I led Phase 1 of the women’s revolution. We disrupted the business in the best and most necessary way.”
Looking ahead, she declared, “With me coming here [in AEW], I promise that another disruption to the business of women’s wrestling is coming. Phase 2 is just getting started.”
She highlighted the representation at the PPV, and drew a stark comparison to WWE’s past efforts. “There are 3 women’s matches at All In… When ‘Mania was 1 night, how many women’s matches were there? Not 3.”
The three matches involving women scheduled for AEW All In 2024 are (Full Card):
AEW Women’s World Championship: Mariah May vs. Toni Storm (c)
TBS Championship: Britt Baker vs. Mercedes Moné (c)
Mixed Tag Match: Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii vs. Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway
During an appearance this week at the Thirsty Cowboy in Medina, Ohio, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan engaged with the crowd in a rowdy and controversial manner, directing remarks at U.S. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Hogan, known for his flamboyant promos, teased that he might “body slam Kamala Harris” and even suggested he could “drop the leg” on her. The crowd reacted enthusiastically, but Hogan quickly downplayed the remarks, emphasizing that he was only joking, saying, “That was not me, that was the beers talking.”
The event was part of Hogan’s promotion for his new beer, Real American Beer, a premium light lager introduced this summer, which bills itself as “brewed with 100% North American ingredients.” The incident, captured in an embedded video courtesy of TMZ Sports, has garnered mixed reactions.
Tony Khan has expressed that he would welcome Charles Barkley to AEW television with open arms if the NBA legend shows interest. Khan, currently making media appearances to promote Sunday’s AEW All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium in London, shared these thoughts during an appearance on the Dan Le Batard Show. He discussed AEW’s relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery and ongoing media rights negotiations.
While Warner Bros. Discovery is set to lose the NBA and its iconic Inside the NBA franchise, co-host Charles Barkley remains committed to the company for the foreseeable future. This has sparked speculation about Barkley potentially appearing in AEW, following in the footsteps of Shaquille O’Neal, who wrestled on AEW Dynamite in 2020. Khan mentioned that he believes Barkley is a wrestling fan and recalled the AEW crew presenting the Inside the NBA team with AEW Championship belts.
Khan praised Shaq, not just for his work in AEW but also for the kind of person he is. If Sir Charles is interested in stepping into the unpredictable world of professional wrestling, Khan is “absolutely” willing to make it happen.
“I don’t know what the future of the NBA holds, but Charles Barkley, as far as being one of the top hosts in all of sports and being one of the most entertaining people in all of television, I think he adds to any sport he’s involved in.
If he wanted to come to AEW, we would love that. Absolutely, I would encourage that and support that.”
WWE RAW announcer Pat McAfee wasn’t afraid to share his gratitude at what will be his final episode of the Red brand for a while. From atop the announcer’s desk, McAfee said thank you to those who built the set for RAW, those in the production truck, the make-up crew, the Superstars, those in Gorilla, and “the greatest of all time” Michael Cole.
McAfee didn’t stop there, as he saved his final thank-you to the WWE Universe, and ended by saying he’ll see everyone in January. Check out this exclusive footage of McAfee’s address, shot by longtime SEScoops correspondent Noah Mark Blaustein.
McAfee will be stepping away from the WWE RAW commentary table to rejoin the ESPN College GameDay team for the upcoming season which will start this week. McAfee’s departure will come as a blow to his fans as his enthusiasm at WWE events has proven to be infectious.
While McAfee will be off WWE TV for a handful of months, he won’t be leaving the world of wrestling entirely behind. This Saturday’s edition of ESPN College GameDay will air live from Dublin, Ireland, and will fittingly see the country’s own Sheamus serve as the celebrity guest picker.
The RAW commentary team will undergo another major change soon enough when Joe Terristore joins the red brand in September 2024. Terristore’s involvement with WWE was announced back in July and he comes with a lengthy background at ESPN. As to who will fill in for McAfee on next week’s RAW remains to be seen, though The Miz filled in for Pat earlier this year when McAfee was off dealing with a family situation. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Pat McAfee from in and outside of WWE.
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is set to return to London’s iconic Wembley Stadium for AEW All In 2024. As one of the most anticipated wrestling events of the year, fans across the globe are eager to know the exact start times to catch all the action live.
Here’s everything you need to know about the AEW All In 2024 start time in various regions.
For fans in the United States, AEW All In 2024 will kick off at 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, August 25, 2024. This midday start allows US viewers to enjoy the event without staying up late into the night.
United Kingdom (UK)
In the United Kingdom, where the event is hosted, the start time is set for 6:00 PM BST, which is a far more sociable time than you would usually get for All Elite PPV shows in Europe.
Australia
Australian fans will need to tune in a bit later, as the start time in Sydney is 3:00 AM AEST on Monday, August 26, 2024. Despite the late hour, Australian wrestling fans are known for their dedication and are likely to stay up to watch live.
Europe
In Central Europe, the start time will be 7:00 PM CEST on August 25, 2024. This convenient evening time makes it accessible for most European viewers without interrupting their usual Sunday schedules.
Randy Orton would love to step in the ring with John Cena one final time before the 16-time WWE World Champion hangs up his jorts for good. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Orton addressed whether he will be part of Cena’s retirement tour.
“I have spoken with him… I would love to wrestle John. But as far as pushing for that match, that’s never been my style.”
Pushing for the match isn’t Orton’s ‘style’ but will come down to Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and his creative team. Fortunately for Orton, having the Game in charge bodes well.
“He [Triple H] is listening to the crowd. He knows where everything needs to end up… And if the fans want John Cena and Randy Orton to face each other at some point, maybe even at Wrestlemania, then this is their last chance.”
Orton encouraged fans who want the match to happen to let their voices be heard on social media and at WWE events. Orton ended by reiterating that if fans really want one final showdown between himself and Cena, then he is confident it’ll happen.
John Cena Vs. Randy Orton
John Cena Vs. Randy Orton was a feud that defined an era in WWE, with both men often competing in pay-per-view main events with World Championships on the line. The pair’s first encounter would come in developmental in July 2001, a year before either man would be on the main roster. That OVW show saw Cena (then Prototype) and Rico Constantino defeat Orton & Bobby Eaton, though Orton got the win in their first singles match the next month.
Cena and Orton last shared the ring in singles action on the July 2, 2017 edition of SmackDown in a match that Cena would win. With Hell in a Cell, Iron Man, and Street Fights in their past, fans are eager to see what the pair would do in their final encounter.
As the wrestling world gears up for another monumental event, AEW All In 2024 at Wembley Stadium, fans are buzzing with anticipation, and ticket sales have been going strong in the build up to the show.
Here’s the latest scoop on how this event is shaping up.
AEW All In Wembley Tickets: Sales Surge
The latest figures from WrestleTix indicate that 45,158 tickets have been distributed as of August 20, 2024.
This number is particularly impressive considering the current setup allows for 51,314 attendees, leaving just 6,156 tickets still up for grabs. This surge in ticket sales underscores the event’s popularity, not just in the UK but Europe also, as there will be tons of fans travelling to London for the show.
AEW All In 2024 Sun Aug 25 2024 17:00:00 Wembley Stadium, London
Available Tickets: 4,474 Current Setup: 53,832 Tickets Distributed: 49,358
When compared to last year’s event, which saw over 70,000 fans in attendance, AEW All In 2024 might not break that record, but it’s still on track to be one of the largest wrestling events in history.
The goal for AEW President Tony Khan seems to be hitting the 50,000 mark, which, if achieved, would be considered a monumental success given the event’s scale and the economic climate.
Tonight’s WWE NXT airs live on the USA Network at 8pm ET from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The show is focused on the road to NXT No Mercy, scheduled for Sunday, September 1.
We’ll see a Triple Threat Match to determine who will face @OfficialEGO for the NXT title, and a Gauntlet Eliminator Match to determine NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez’s next challenger.
Triple Threat Eliminator: Wes Lee vs. Pete Dunne vs. Joe Hendry
Lola Vice vs. Wendy Choo
Tehuti Miles vs. Dion Lennox
Hank & Tank vs. The Good Brothers
Chase U will host a Championship Celebration after winning the NXT Tag Titles last week
What Happened Last Week
Charlie Dempsey def. Tony D’Angelo to win the NXT Heritage Cup: Dempsey captured the NXT Heritage Cup from D’Angelo in a five-round classic, with an assist from Wren Sinclair.
Lexis King def. Eddy Thorpe: King dominated Thorpe, exploiting an injured hand to secure the win with Coronation.
Lola Vice def. Tatum Paxley: Vice continued her momentum with a victory over Paxley, despite chaos at ringside involving Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan and Wendy Choo.
North American Champion Oba Femi def. Otis: Femi retained his title against Raw’s Otis, overcoming the powerhouse with a decisive Powerbomb.
Izzi Dame def. Brinley Reece: Dame took out her frustrations over her exclusion from the Women’s Gauntlet on Reece, using her size and power to win the match.
Chase U def. Nathan Frazer and Axiom to win the NXT Tag Team Titles: Andre Chase and Ridge Holland captured the NXT Tag Team Titles, with Holland’s power and Chase’s strategy making the difference.
AEW President Tony Khan is aiming high with All In: Texas 2025, which will be the promotion’s first stadium event in the United States. Speaking to the Dallas Morning News, Khan spoke about possibly breaking the attendance record in Globe Life Field.
“We think we have a chance to set the all-time attendance record. That would be pretty cool.”
Country artist Morgan Wallen currently holds the attendance record for Globe Life Field when 43,958 fans came to watch him perform in 2022. Globe Life Field is the home of the Texas Rangers and opened its doors in 2020.
All In: Texas 2025will mark AEW’s first time hosting the event outside of London, England. In the interview, Khan shared his excitement about bringing the massive show to Arlington.
“AEW All In is such an important event in sports and it’s one of the most marquee nights in pro wrestling… The location is very special to us and Arlington, Texas. It’s a very special place.”
AEW has quickly become familiar with the city of Arlington as recent episodes of Collision have taken place in the Texan city. ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024 was also held in Arlington as part of Khan’s ‘Summer Series’ of events.
The Sporting News reported earlier this month that AEW is planning on hosting a stadium event in Australia in 2025 and that plans are already in motion. Venues reportedly being considered for the show include Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium, and Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Former WWE Superstar Ronda Rousey recently sat down with Chris Van Vliet of the Insight podcast to discuss her career in wrestling. Rousey captured the WWE RAW & SmackDown Women’s Championships during her run, as well as the WWE Women’s Tag Titles. She won the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match as well and headlined WrestleMania in 2019.
“I just wanted to have a great match. Sometimes I felt like instead of like enabling us to have a great match, we were fighting against him in order to have a great match.”
When asked if there was any love lost between the two, Rousey made herself clear.
“No, Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, Bruce Prichard they can all suck a d**k.”
Rousey also said it was McMahon being an “a**hole” that resulted in a singles match with Becky Lynch at WrestleMania not happening. Despite this, Lynch has a much more positive take on McMahon’s daughter Stephanie and Triple H.
“They are fantastic, love them.”
On If She’s Done With Wrestling
After leaving WWE, Rousey has gone on to compete a handful of times but has yet to step in the ring in 2024. When asked, Rousey said she was done wrestling full-time.
“I might come back and have some fun here and there. But I can’t be leaving home and being on the road like that.”
On Calling Wrestling Fake
In 2019, on the road to WrestleMania 35, Rousey shared a scathing video online in which she called wrestling fake. The video in question raised questions with fans as to whether WWE should be working with Rousey (the RAW Women’s Champion at the time) given her apparent disrespect for the business.
Rousey and her crew busted out laughing as soon as the video stopped recording, and loved blurring the lines of real and kayfabe. On the show, Rousey explained why she said what she said as it went beyond being like any other heel in WWE at the time.
“So many people are trying to be the cool guy heel. They’re like I want to be the heel, but I want everyone to actually like me for it. I’m like, No, man. I want people to feel like I am an existential threat to what they love.”
On The WrestleMania 35 Finish
As the controversy around her comment raged, Rousey headlined WrestleMania 35 against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair in the first women’s main event of the Supershow. The match is unfortunately remembered for a botched finish that saw Lynch pin Rousey despite the latter’s shoulders being up.
“I didn’t think my shoulders were flat on the ground, so I was trying to scoot to get my shoulders flat because it’s so f*cking loud I can’t hear anything.”
Rousey added that this controversial finish was not planned, but hoped at the time that the mistake could be worked into an angle and a long-awaited singles match with Lynch. That never took place and with Lynch no longer a part of WWE, a rematch on a grand stage seems less likely than ever before.
John Cena’s seemingly random social media follows comes from an aim to get views from all sides, the former WWE World Champion has revealed. Sitting down with WIRED to promote his new movie Jackpot, Cena shared the method behind his madness.
“I follow everyone I can, I’m following over 800,000 people at the moment, I will j ust continue to follow a thousand people a day — I follow people from everywhere, I don’t care, no one is off limits, your affiliations, your beliefs, I don’t care because I want to hear all the voices.”
Cena currently follows over 850,000 people on X, with his list of follows ranging from political powerhouses to loyal fans. From Hollywood A-Listers to the quaint Lancashire Cricket Club of the UK, Cena is interested in hearing from all corners of the globe.
John Cena on Social Media
While the WWE icon is closing in on following a million people on X, Cena follows 0 people on Instagram but has amassed 21 million followers on the platform. On Instagram, Cena shares images without any caption of context, leaving fans to speculate on what he means. These images often relate to his projects both in and out of WWE and amass thousands of comments as his followers debate what they mean.
What’s to Come?
Fans can expect to see plenty of Cena in the coming months as the WWE icon will soon embark on his retirement tour. 2025 will mark the end of John Cena’s in-ring career, as the legend shared at WWE Money in the Bank 2024 in Toronto, Canada.
WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart has no regrets over punching Vince McMahon following Survivor Series 1997 and the Montreal Screwjob. Speaking with the Attitude Era podcast, the Hitman made his views on McMahon abundantly clear.
“I knocked him [McMahon] out with one punch and it was the greatest punch I ever threw. [It was an] absolutely beautiful uppercut. I lifted him about a foot off the ground, [and] broke my hand. It was the sweetest punch I ever threw. I wouldn’t change anything about it. Vince McMahon can rot in hell.”
After being ‘screwed’ by McMahon in his native Canada, an infuriated Hart made his way to the back. It has been reported for years that McMahon hid in his office after the match, and only emerged after The Undertaker made him appear and apologize. Bret and McMahon reportedly discussed what had happened and Bret warned McMahon to leave immediately or risk being punched.
McMahon allegedly told Bret “I’m gonna give you one” and Hart clocked the billionaire. McMahon was floored by the punch and was later seen with a black eye and a sprained ankle, the latter being cause by his fall to the floor, Hart has claimed.
What Came Next?
Bret would make a one-night return to WWE in 2006 for the Hall of Fame ceremony before returning in January 2010 to WWE programming. In 2019, Hart was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time for his role in the Hart Foundation.
Anthony Ogogo and his wife Casey are celebrating as the couple have shared that they are awaiting the birth of their first child. Ogogo said that parenthood will be the next round in his life and questioned if his child will grow up to be a boxer or a wrestler.
Ogogo signed with AEW in 2019 and made his on-screen TV debut in 2021. That same year, the Olympic bronze medalist feuded with Cody Rhodes, culminating in a match at Double or Nothing 2021 that Rhodes won. In April of this year, Ogogo aligned with Shane Taylor Promotions by joining them in a beatdown on Chris Jericho and HOOK.
Pro Wrestling’s Baby Fever
Anthony Ogogo isn’t the only wrestler who’ll be changing diapers and warming up bottles soon enough. During an April edition of AEW Rampage, Ruby Soho revealed that she is pregnant and celebrated in the ring with her now-husband Angelo Parker. Days later, fellow Riott Squad alum Valhalla shared that she and Viking Raider Erik are also expecting their second child.
At San Diego Comic-Con last month, former WWE RAW & SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey shared that she is expecting her second child and revealed her baby bump at the convention. Rousey and her husband Travis Browne welcomed their daughter La’akea into the world in September 2021. She is also a stepmom to two of Browne’s sons from a previous marriage.
We here at SE Scoops would like to send our congratulations to Ogogo and his wife on their joyous news!
More has come to light about Saraya’s current status with AEW as the former Women’s World Champion seeks a role at All In: London. Saraya’s deal with AEW extends until at least September, Fightful Select reports, and the two sides have “at least been in talks” about extending her current deal for a year.
Saraya joined AEW in 2022 after a unique exit from WWE which saw the promotion reportedly try and re-sign her after Triple H took over. Saraya’s time in AEW saw her return to the ring after a nearly five-year retirement. Saraya has since feuded with top talent including Britt Baker and Toni Storm and is currently aligned with Harley Cameron.
Saraya’s Journey to AEW All In: London 2024
At AEW All In: London 2023, Saraya captured the AEW Women’s World Championship, her first title victory in close to a decade. Her reign would come to an end mere weeks later when she lost the gold to Hikaru Shida.
Tomorrow is Saraya’s Birthday and #AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm has the perfect present!
Saraya isn’t booked for AEW All In: London 2024, a matter that the British wrestler has taken issue with. On this week’s Dynamite in Cardiff, Wales, Saraya will challenge Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm. A victory would ensure Saraya a place in Wembley Stadium as Mariah May will challenge for the gold this weekend. Fightful adds that Saraya does not officially have a match for All In: London at this time, but is “planned for the show.”
Randy Orton delivered an RKO to the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther after this week’s episode of Raw from Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida went off air.
The Viper faced Ludwig Kaiser in the main event of the Red Branded Show. The Ring General was not present at the ringside but he later made his way through the crowd to distract Orton. This allowed Kaiser to gain the upper hand momentarily.
Randy, however, showed why he is a 14-time world champion. In the end he dropped Ludwig Kaiser on the announce table multiple times and won the match after hitting an RKO for the pin.
Gunther entered the ring after the bout to try and take out Orton but the Legend Killer didn’t let him dominate for too long. The feed cut off right as Randy poked the World Champion in the eye.
A fan made video from the arena shows that Randy Orton successfully delivered an RKO to Gunther after the show went off air. WWE has also posted a video of Orton posing with the world title dropped by Gunther at the end of the segment, before returning the belt to its owner:
Randy Orton will get a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship at the Bash In Berlin special from Uber Arena on Saturday, August 31.
Though this won’t be the only interesting match for the show. Last week’s episode of Raw saw CM Punk brutally assaulting Drew McIntyre when he tried to confront Gunther.
McIntyre and Punk had a confrontation on this week’s episode of the show after the segment. The Straight Edge Star challenged the Scottish Psychopath to a stipulation match and the latter accepted. You can check out the details of the bout here.
Uncle Howdy, the macabre side of Bo Dallas, will make his in-ring debut during next week’s episode of WWE Monday Night RAW. Howdy will face American Made’s Chad Gable on the show in what’ll be the latest chapter of their feud. Gable was attacked by the Wyatt Sicks upon the faction’s debut in June with some fans claiming the Olympian had been ‘killed’ due to the bloody wound on his head.
This will mark the first WWE match for Howdy, and Bo Dallas’ first WWE match since a WWE live event in November 2019. In the faction’s in-ring debut, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, and Erick Rowan, defeated Gable and the Creed Brothers earlier this month.,
Next Week’s WWE RAW
The in-ring debut of Uncle Howdy will be just one highlight of the go home edition of WWE RAW before Bash in Berlin on August 31. On the show, Bronson Reed’s path of destruction will see him collide with Braun Strowman. A tournament to decide the next challenger for Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker will also get underway. Breakker won the gold from Sami Zayn at WWE SummerSlam, marking his first title on the main roster.
After months of cryptic messages, fans are eager to see how Uncle Howdy fares in the ring Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest in the build towards next week’s crucial match.
WWE Bash in Berlin will feature the next chapter in the Drew McIntyre and CM Punk blood feud. Punk and McIntyre have been butting heads ever since the Scottish Warrior injured the Second City Saint at the WWE Royal Rumble at the beginning of the year. McIntyre later told Punk that he prayed for him to get injured, then slid into his spot against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania XL, where he captured the world heavyweight championship.
However, that world title reign was short-lived after Punk attacked McIntyre, leading to Damian Priest cashing-in his Money In The Bank and stealing the title after a five-minute reign. After months of attacks and receipts, McIntyre and Punk finally met at WWE SummerSlam in Cleveland. On that night, McIntyre defeated Punk thanks to some faulty refereeing by Seth Rollins.
Now Punk has a chance at revenge. On the August 19th WWE Raw, saw Punk challenge: McIntyre to a strap match at Bash in Berlin. McIntyre immediately accepted and the match was confirmed.
Updated lineup for Bash in Berlin
Here’s the updated match card for WWE Bash in Berlin, scheduled for Saturday, August 31st from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany:
Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens for the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship
GUNTHER (c) vs. Randy Orton for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre in a strap match
Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest vs. Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan
Amazon’s newest film, Jackpot!, featuring Awkwafina and John Cena, is officially available on Prime Video. The action comedy marks the first time they have worked together on a movie and is Cena’s second project for the streaming service this year.
Jackpot! is set in the future in Los Angeles, California, where a special raffle called the “Grand Lottery” offers a multi-billion dollar prize with the rule that citizens can kill the winner to get the ticket. The winner is forced to survive until sundown to collect their earnings.
Awkwafina plays Katie Kim, a struggling actress who wins the lottery and gets protection from Cena’s character, Noel Cassidy, to survive the hunt.
The film is Cena’s second comedy after his performance in Ricky Stanickyearlier this year. Although the movie wasn’t well received by himself and other critics, it scored 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. Jackpot! has garnered less universal enthusiasm so far.
I watched the film after its release to share my review of it. After sharing my thoughts on different aspects of Jackpot!, I’ll give an overall rating between 1 and 10.
A Promising Concept With Poor Results
The best way to describe Jackpot! is that it’s like if you were to combine the 2010 film Lottery Ticket and The Purge franchise. The plot of a woman forced into a situation where she wins a life-changing opportunity but must survive murderers looking to take it away is interesting. That can make for a good horror movie or a fascinating dark comedy. Unfortunately, Jackpot! is an action comedy with jokes that fall flat and action that is just okay.
The first 25 minutes of the movie set the tone for how illogical the plot will be for viewers intrigued by the premise. As Jackpot! continues, it completely unravels into a ridiculous and forgettable film. For example, why the “Grand Lottery” was created in the first place makes no sense and isn’t explained. At one point in the movie, Cena’s character calls for help to launch a “Phone Strike” that blows up all the cell phones of himself and his partner’s pursuers. These are just some moments that made me scratch my head in confusion.
The action scenes are okay but could be more memorable. The humor is painfully bad, as Awkwafina and Cena try desperately to make you crack a smile, which fails more often than not. The lack of delivered jokes and the action that isn’t eye-catching enough leads to a tough movie to sit through over an hour and 30 minutes.
John Cena & Awkwafina Performance
The WWE superstar has become a good actor who can be goofy and charming to make fans endeared to him. Jackpot! features Cena mainly in a more subdued role than in past films and has Awkwafina play more of an over-the-top character. The creative decision resulted in the most lackluster performance from the 13-time WWE Champion in recent memory.
It doesn’t help the film that the dialogue is poor. Awkwafina tries to find jokes by reacting to the zany situations that she is involved in throughout Jackpot! This leads to a lot of shrieking and so many jokes that can make a viewer roll their eyes.
While the comedy doesn’t work, Cena and Awkwafina have moments that show what they could’ve done with a better script. Both have serious parts in the movie that are good. For instance, there is a scene between them where the leading actress talks about her troubles as a childhood actress and how her father stole from her. Cena has a moment where he gets to show his acting chops with a more dramatic scene as he shares his character’s motivation for helping Awkwafina in the film. It’s points in the movie like this that show how talented they both are but have the challenge of a bad script.
Show-Stealing Supporting Characters
Although I didn’t get many laughs from Cena or Awkwafina, I did enjoy three characters in the movie. One of them is Simu Liu, who plays Louis Lewis. He acts as a rival to the WWE superstar’s character and the main villain. Liu showcases his charisma and is charming as the bad guy trying to take the lottery ticket from the protagonist.
The other two supporting characters who wowed me were actor Donald Elise Watkins as DJ Donald and actress Ayden Mayeri as Shadi. They are a couple in the movie, and their chemistry is better than Cena’s and Awkwafina’s. Watkins and Mayeri played off each other well and made me chuckle at some of their scenes with the leading actress. The three supporting characters made the Jackpot! more enjoyable than it should’ve been.
Overall Thoughts On Jackpot!
I think Jackpot! results from a film with an interesting plot but lousy execution. The concept may truly be better in another genre than what was intended. In comparison to Ricky Stanicky, Cena in Jackpot! is a waste of his abilities as a comedic actor, and I think the WWE superstar should consider attempting more different roles, including a thriller or a rom-com, for his next film.
Jackpot! isn’t a completely terrible project. However, it remains a forgettable film, making you wish it could’ve been better.
Paul Heyman believes it was meant to be for CM Punk to return to WWE. Punk made his comeback to the company after a disastrous exit from All Elite Wrestling on September 2, 2023, following a backstage altercation with Jake Perry. “The Straight Edge Superstar” would make his shocking return to WWE at Survivor Series on November 25, 2023.
In an interview with Sam Roberts, Heyman said he believed it was destiny for Punk to overcome the issues he had in his wrestling career and return to the WWE.
“It’s destiny, really. CM Punk is back where he belongs, and that’s on top in WWE,” said Heyman. “It’s the old song, you had to go to hell to get to Heaven and CM Punk, the struggle is real, and he is a rebel. To this day, he is a rebel, but the rebel would never reach the top. The rebel will never get his due on his own merit if he doesn’t go through pure, blatant bloody hell, and that hell could not only be in WWE. He had to go through hell elsewhere as well, and everybody had to see it and hear about it and know about it and sit there and go, ‘My god, will somebody please one time give this talented man the platform that he deserves.'”
As a longtime friend of Punk, Heyman continued to speak on the former WWE Champion’s journey back to the company and how he is still dealing with struggles after recovering from an injury at the Royal Rumble on January 27.
Paul Heyman On CM Punk Being At His WWE Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony
Punk’s return to the WWE occurred just at the right time for Heyman’s induction into the Hall of Fame on April 5. The self-proclaimed “Best In the World” wrestler sat in the front row with his former manager’s children to witness the event. Heyman admitted it was important that Punk was in attendance for his induction.
“To see him in the front row with my children, was it surreal? No. Actually, it was very, very, very real, and the Hall of Fame would have not been the same to me if that wasn’t the case.”
– Paul Heyman
Thus far, Punk is fighting back against the stigma that he is challenging to work with based on his past. WWE fans are enjoying his return, and Punk seems ready to stay in the company for the rest of his career.
Podcasts covering professional wrestling are as common as clotheslines and headlocks. For brave explorers seeking to enter the pro wrestling podcast vortex, we at SEScoops want to make your journey as easy as possible.
Each week, we update you on the Top 25 most-listened-to wrestling podcast episodes, focusing on the Top 5 (including embeds). This feature is based on data from Apple Podcasts compiled by Chartable.
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Top 5 Wrestling Podcasts – Apple (August 19th, 2024)
1) Jim Cornette Experience | +
If you’ve been a consistent reader of our Podcast Power Rankings (first of all, thank you!), you probably have become accustomed to seeing one name constantly dominate the #1 position of the Top 5. As Brock Lesnar did at WrestleMania 30, someone has shockingly broken The Undertaker’s streak. Although this time, it isn’t The Beast Incarnate; it’s Jim Cornette.
Love or hate him, Jim Cornette doesn’t care what you think. He has been a prominent figure in professional wrestling for decades and is considered one of the pioneers in producing weekly wrestling commentary.
On the latest edition of the Jim Cornette Experience, Cornette dives into and celebrates the life and career of the late great Kevin Sullivan. Plus, the show discusses Roman Reigns’ return on WWE SmackDown, the Young Bucks’ contract structure with AEW, Undertaker’s very real fear of pickles, and more!
Don’t worry, Undertaker fans. The Deadman is not far from the top. The WWE Hall of Famer comes in at #2, a reality that we at SEScoops predict won’t last very long—if history has taught us anything.
The latest editions of Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway were retrospective, as The Undertaker and co-host Matt discuss the highlights of the program’s first 15 episodes.
If you’re a fan of those “100th Episode Celebration” specials that every successful sitcom had in the 90s, then you’ll love this latest episode!
3) Insight with Chris Van Vliet | ~
Chris Van Vliet isn’t just one of the most well-respected interviewers in professional wrestling; he’s an internationally recognized media personality. He’s a four-time Emmy-winning TV Host, YouTuber, and Inc. 500 entrepreneur who’s interviewed everyone from Anne Hathaway to Hornswoggle
The last two editions of Insight with Chris Van Vliet have a little something for everybody! In episode #641, CCV sits down with former WWE Women’s Champion, The Glamazon, Beth Phoenix! In the following episode, the focus shifts as Vilet fields various great questions from the fans. “Oh, how the turntables!” (If you get that reference, we love you.)
4) Perched On The Top Rope | –
Making an appearance in the Top 5 once again is the Perched On The Top Rope podcast!
The program is hosted by Lee, a former writer, avid wrestling collector, and fan for over 30 years. He’s joined by Larry Peace, a former MLW referee, and Justin, the podcast’s correspondent.
Surprisingly, the crew at Perched on The Top Rope hasn’t released a new episode since their Money In The Bank Predictions special in early July. This is according to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and their official X profile. While we’re just as confused as you are about how they got into the Top 5, who are we to judge? Good work, boys!
Check out this episode here and see how well the guys did, and check out the other awesome episodes they’ve put out!
5) Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard | +
One of the most influential and powerful executives in professional wrestling, Bruce Prichard, rounds out today’s Top 5.
In the latest edition of Something To Wrestle with Bruce Prichard, Prichard dives into one of the most explosive nights in professional wrestling: Monday Night RAW’s August 20th, 2001 episode. Kurt Angle’s famous “MILK-A-MANIA!”, the height of the WCW invasion, and the DDP and Taker feud (that infamous Stalker storyline) are all discussed! All that, plus more.
