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WWE Bash in Berlin Odds: Favorites Revealed Ahead of PLE

Jake Skudder
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The WWE Bash in Berlin is set to be the first-ever WWE Premium Live Event (PLE) to take place in Germany, scheduled for August 31, 2024, at the Uber Arena in Berlin.

As the anticipation builds, betting odds have been released by BetOnline, revealing the favorites for each match. Let’s dive into the latest odds and analyze the expected outcomes of the event.

Headline Matches and Betting Favorites

Among the most anticipated matches is the clash between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre in a Strap Match. This bout marks their second showdown, and the betting odds favor CM Punk to emerge victorious with odds of -400 against McIntyre’s +250. This result could set the stage for a final showdown at the WWE Bad Blood PLE next month.

Another major highlight is the defense of the World Championships. Gunther, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, is heavily favored to retain his title against Randy Orton, with staggering odds of -5000 against Orton’s +1200.

Similarly, the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is predicted to retain his championship against Kevin Owens, boasting odds of -6000 compared to Owens’ +1500.

Tag Team Action and Potential Surprises

The event will also feature a significant tag team match where Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest are expected to defeat Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio.

The odds here are -325 for Ripley and Priest, while Morgan and Mysterio stand at +185. This match could be pivotal as WWE builds storylines around Judgment Day’s recent betrayal.

Women’s Tag Team Championship Odds

One of the closest matchups in terms of betting odds involves the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Current champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn are only slight favorites to retain their titles against challengers Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair.

The odds are set at -200 for the champions and +150 for the challengers, suggesting a potential title change could be on the cards.

WWE Bash in Berlin Predictions: CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre and More

Jake Skudder
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WWE’s Bash in Berlin 2024 promises to be a spectacular event with exciting matchups. As fans eagerly anticipate the action, here are our predictions for the top matches, including CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.

Bash in Berlin Predictions

WWE Title Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs Kevin Owens

Cody Rhodes will defend his WWE Title against Kevin Owens in what promises to be decent in-ring. Rhodes, fresh off his SummerSlam victory, chose Owens as his next opponent to thank him for his help against the Bloodline.

Despite Owens initially rejecting the handout, Rhodes was able to convince him. WWE has multiple routes to explore with this storyline, from Owens turning on Rhodes to setting up a feud for the fall.

Prediction: Cody Rhodes retains

WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match: The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) (c) vs Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill are set to reclaim their WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles from Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. Since their victory in Scotland, Fyre and Dawn haven’t been spotlighted as a significant act, leading many to believe that Belair and Cargill, a makeshift team, will regain their titles.

Prediction: Belair & Cargill win

Mixed Tag Team Match: Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan

The Judgment Day faction faces the ‘Terror Twins’ as Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley take on Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. With the new Judgment Day having only just formed and Finn Balor likely to interfere to set up a match at Bad Blood, it is likely that Dom and Liv will take the win here.

Prediction: Mysterio & Morgan win

Strap Match: CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre

This strap match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre, a “touch all the corners” bout, could lead to a future Hell in a Cell match, which is what we’re expecting at Bad Blood. Given the buildup, McIntyre is likely to continue his winning streak against Punk.

Prediction: Drew McIntyre wins

WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: Gunther (c) vs. Randy Orton

Gunther defends his WWE World Heavyweight Title against Randy Orton in a highly anticipated match. Gunther’s recent success and the buildup to this bout suggest he will retain his championship against the former Legend Killer.

Prediction: Gunther retains

Cody and Dusty Rhodes Bobbleheads Available for Pre-Order

Scott Fishman
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Two eras. One legacy. Toy manufacturer FOCO has announced the release of a Cody Rhodes and Dusty Rhodes WWE American Dream-American Nightmare Dual Bobblehead. The handcrafted and hand-painted collectible portrays two of the most popular pro wrestlings in history wearing their ring gear in action poses looking ready to take on the competition. 

“The American Dream” and “The American Nightmare” text were emblazoned on the front of the base of the display. The thematic, split-color base brings a double dose of WWE greatness.  It’s the perfect addition to fans young and old. 

Cody and Dusty Rhodes Bobbleheads
The American Dream and the Tmerican Nightmare

This is the latest in a series of high-quality bobbleheads from FOCO, which prides itself on being the leading manufacturer of sports and entertainment merchandizing celebrating more than 20 years in the industry. So many have been immortalized in bobblehead form from nWo, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Roddy Piper to LA Knight, Seth Rollins, and AJ Styles. 

Along with WWE, they have also licensed all major sports leagues including NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, and over 200 colleagues and universities as well as other entertainment properties such as Nickelodeon and Peanuts.

Visit Foco.com to preorder the Cody Rhodes and Dusty Rhodes Bobblehead set and see their full line of wrestling merchandise.

Mojo Rawley Talks Wrestlers Combine, Representing Talent

Scott Fishman
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Dean Muhtadi, better known to fans as Mojo, knows a thing or two about pro sports given his NFL and WWE background. He is putting all that experience to use as the company he helped co-found, Paragon Talent Agency, in partnership with DraftKings, are hosting a Wrestler’s Combine on September 4. The event is run in collaboration with Black Label Pro Wrestling. 

The athletic competition coincides with the card of matches, part of the Crowning Glory event in Chicago. Mojo will co-host the festivities along with “Tough Enough” winner Maven and Emmy-winning interviewer Chris Van Vliet. The show is actually streaming on Vilet’s YouTube channel.

This unique happening has an impressive list of famous faces including Moose, Jordynne Grace, Parker Boudreaux, Ash by Elegance, Xia Li (Zhao Xia), Mandy Sacs, Riddick Moss (Mike Rallis), and Jake Hager. For Mojo, the Wrestler’s Combine has been in the works for a while. 

“The concept itself is pretty cool. Pro wrestling is a completely different business than the NFL, but the NFL has some cool things they do that we don’t have in the wrestling world.

One of them is the NFL Combine where they bring in all the talent and find out who is the fastest and who is the strongest as a recruiting tool to see who is going to be picked up in the NFL Draft. Pro wrestling, we don’t have anything liek that. The idea was to bring that to the wrestling world.” 

– Mojo Rawley

There are four women and four men competing in the combine itself. The participants will be put through four events. This includes who can run the ropes the fastest, arm wrestling, a wrestler’s twist on tug-of-war, and a shoot collar and elbow tie-up. Mojo stresses it’s all a legit competition. There are bragging rights and reputations on the line.

Agents and the Lack of Unionions in Pro Wrestling

The big names attached to the event have connections to Mojo’s agency. Something he wanted to do for a while with the idea that players in the NFL had all this fancy representation like any other major sports. So, why couldn’t pro wrestlers have access to these services as well? 

“You go to wrestling, there is no union. There are barely representatives of any kind,” Mojo explained. “There are no full-circle 360 representatives out there for people. The idea was to start the first one for pro wrestling. COVID started the company sooner than I meant for it to because COVID ended my career with WWE abruptly. I had to find a way to pivot. 

I’ve always been a guy who thought out Plan B should things go wrong. I started Paragon the first day I was a free man after I called one of my best friends Steve Kaye, who has a legitimate business background as well. I told him what I wanted to do and it took him 15 seconds to hear about this thing and jumped in. 

– Mojo Rawley

Mojo and Kaye put their MBAs, acumen for the biz and contacts into their new venture. It took off with Mojo saying they’ve done paid deals for 350 talent. “That tells you right there how much of a need there was for something like this,” he added. “…One is to help out the talent, but two, reintroduce the outside world to what pro wrestlers are capable of.” 

WWE NIL

The landscape is a lot different place than when Mojo started his pro wrestling journey from the gridiron more than a decade ago. He is impressed with WWE’s NIL and recruitment approach, which has given them a wealth of emerging talent in recent years. 

“They put a lot of weight and money behind it. Way more than they were doing before. I felt like before they were subscribing to the approach that you throw as much against the wall as you can and see what sticks.

It’s not a terrible strategy. I know that sounds like I’m downplaying the legitimacy of a strategy like that. But when you have a revolving door, you sink or swim, get in and get out. That way works for a lot of people. I think now they are doing their due diligence a lot more.

They are going out and finding these college athletes and seeing what they are about, signing them and locking them in early before they potentially blow up in their careers and go another route. It is a smart thing to do. You see college programs offering children scholarships sometimes. I had a buddy who played for the Arizona Cardinals. He was born as the biggest baby in Louisiana. I think LSU offered him a scholarship the day he was born. Guess what? He went to the school later on, so these things actually can work out for you.” 

– Mojo Rawley

By the same token, Mojo thinks recruiting off the indies is also a lot more streamlined. He makes the point that we’re seeing some of the current signed WWE talent go and wrestle or do autograph signings and appearances at independent promotions. He states that was never a thing before and the “floodgates are open.” He credits this in part to the existence of AEW. 

NFL Players Doing Wrestling

Before his WWE release, Mojo looked to be cooking something big with his buddy Rob Gronkowski. The Super Bowl champ ended up going back for one last, ditching his pro wrestling aspirations. However, Mojo doesn’t rule out a return for “Gronk” one day. He also assesses if we’ll see Patrick Mahomes, or Travis and Jason Kelce in the ring as well. 

“‘Gronk’ is the only one that is retired. From a logistics standpoint, you have to think it’s him [first]. He loves pro wrestling. We certainly planned on doing a lot more together, but life takes you to different places and everyone goes on to the next thing,” Mojo said. “The Kelces have been to WWE shows. They’ve done well. They have the personality for it. Mohomes  is probably last on the list of who you will see do stuff.” 

– Mojo Rawley

For Mojo, it comes to passion and a deep-rooted desire to do it. Mostly because they surely don’t need the money. 

“Honestly, with a lot of those guys, you’ll probably only see a one-off or pay-per-view with the buildup for a couple of months,” Mojo added. “It’s very hard to take somebody who is making $10 to $50 million a year and pay them a fraction of that but ask them to get their ass kicked more and train for something brand new after they already made it to the tippy top of NFL or pro sports. 

“…Honestly, the person who has come close to that has been Moose. Moose was a seven-year starter in the NFL and he left football to come to wrestling and came to wrestling. He didn’t come to WWE and get offered a fat contract. He just left football because he liked wrestling better…That doesn’t happen. I give him all the credit in the world for that. AJ Francis is another example of that. He was a starter as well in the NFL. He and I were college teammates. I remember back when we were playing ball together. Even when he was in the NFL, he would say he was just biding my time until I got a shot at WWE. I would leave the NFL in two seconds to go do that. I love that more. Then he actually did…He started over to make nothing at NXT.” 

– Mojo Rawley

Coming Out of Retirement

As for if we’ll ever see Mojo in the ring again, that’s another story. It’s a return four years and counting in the making. 

“I’m absolutely going to wrestle again at some point,” he stated. “I don’t know when it’s going to be or where it’s going to be. I thought it would have been by now, but I’ve been so busy with Paragon, which I guess is a good problem to have. I feel like my contributions to the pro wrestling business through Paragon had been way better, way bigger, and way more important than anything I could have possibly done in-ring. With all these booking wrestlers for gigs, it just gets you reminiscent in your field a little bit. I’m going to have to do something at some point.” 

– Mojo Rawley

For more on everything Crowning Glory, check out the Black Label Pro website.

WWE SmackDown Preview from Berlin: Street Fight, Open Challenge

Michael Reichlin
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WWE presents a special international edition of WWE SmackDown tonight on FOX at 8/7c. The final SmackDown before WWE Bash in Berlin view will be taped from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, the site of Saturday’s premium live event.

Matches announced tonight’s SmackDown include:

  • Open Challenge: LA Knight will put his United States Championship on the line against whoever steps up.
  • Street Fight for the Women’s Championship: Queen Nia Jax (c) vs. Michin
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade
  • Santos Escobar vs. Baron Corbin

Update: WWE SmackDown Tapings Results from Berlin (8/30)

What Happened Last Week on SmackDown?

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:

Dominik Mysterio Reveals What Fueled His ‘Bad Guy’ Run

Bishal Roy
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The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio is one of the most hated heels in WWE and he might be the only wrestler to ‘turn heel while being a heel.’ ‘Dirty Dom,’ the son of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio has perfectly embraced his villainous role since September 2022 and he is showered with boos whenever he shows up.

Dominik Mysterio took his heel status up by a notch when he betrayed his ‘Mami’ Rhea Ripley and shockingly kissed Liv Morgan at SummerSlam. Speaking with the NY Post, the second-generation wrestler said that locking lips with Morgan fueled his heel run and he is blessed for the opportunities. He said:

“I think I’m one of the only people, if not the only person to turn heel while already being the heel. It’s kind of just pouring more gasoline on the fire at that point. It’s just really cool. I’m just blessed for all the opportunities and I’m thankful for them. I’m just doing me. They hate me because I’m pretty.”

– Dominik Mysterio

The Judgment saga is not yet over and Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest (The Terror Twins) are trying to seek revenge on Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio. Mysterio and Morgan will team up to face Ripley and fellow former Judgment Day member Priest at Bash in Berlin. WWE’s first PLE in Germany will emanate from the Uber Arena on Saturday, August 31.

Liv Morgan’s Injury Proved To Be A Blessing: I’m That B**** Now!

Thomas Lowson
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In 2023, a separated shoulder injury would put Liv Morgan on the shelf and cost her months of action before returning in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match. While an injury is typically the worst thing to happen to a WWE Superstar, this setback proved to be a blessing in disguise for the reigning Women’s World Champion.

Speaking to Us, Morgan addressed the injury she suffered, which resulted in her being written off TV with an attack by Rhea Ripley. This time away from the ring provided the 30-year-old Superstar with an opportunity to reassess her place in WWE, especially after years of feeling like she didn’t truly belong—feelings that had plagued her since her days in WWE NXT.

“It wasn’t until I came back from my injury this past year that I went from like, ‘I’m lucky to be here’ to ‘I’m that b***h. I don’t know what that switch was… It wasn’t until I had those months off where I only had to be myself.”

Morgan has certainly proven to be that b***h in 2024 after capturing the WWE Women’s World Champion at WWE King And Queen of the Ring from Becky Lynch. She solidified her reign by successfully defending the title against Lynch in a steel cage match on RAW—a match that marked The Man’s final WWE appearance.

What’s Next?

Morgan’s ‘revenge’ tour will take her to Berlin, Germany tomorrow night where she will compete at the inaugural WWE Bash in Berlin event. In the Uber Arena, Morgan will team with Judgment Day ally Dominik Mysterio to face Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley.

Post-Berlin, Morgan will continue to defend her WWE Women’s World Championship on TV and at Premium Live Events. With the full support of Judgment Day and her ever-improving in-ring skills, Morgan’s reign shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Jordynne Grace Offers to “Fly Out” NXT Superstar For Match

Jake Skudder
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In an unexpected turn of events, NXT Superstar Jaida Parker has publicly expressed her desire to face Jordynne Grace, the TNA Knockouts Champion.

This challenge comes after Parker’s recent interview with MuscleManMalcom, where she discussed her ambitions and the possibility of answering an open challenge from Grace for the TNA Knockouts Championship.

During the interview, Parker confidently stated, “I’m waiting on my plane ticket. You got something I want, and that’s that gold.”

Jordynne Grace’s Response to the Challenge

Jordynne Grace wasted no time responding to Parker’s challenge. In a tweet that quickly got attention from fans online, Grace replied, “I’ll fly you out myself, drop me your government name and DOB.”

There is currently no indication that this match is something that both TNA and NXT are looking at going forward, but it could be a big for Parker’s burgeoning career.

Parker is currently set to face Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Championship at the No Mercy Premium Live Event on Sunday, September 1st. Grace could make an appearance at the show, but it is not something that we have heard it likely at this point.

Rhea Ripley Tattoos: Former Judgment Day Member Explains Her Ink

Jake Skudder
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Rhea Ripley recently opened up about the personal significance behind her tattoos in a new episode of WWE Tattooed. The former member of Judgment Day revealed the deeper meanings of her ink, reflecting her personal journey and experiences.

The Start of Ripley’s Tattoo Journey

Rhea Ripley’s first tattoo is a tribute to the pivotal moment in her WWE career, the date of WWE Evolution.

Ripley described this day as the true beginning of her transformation into “The Nightmare” and “The Eradicator,” identities that have come to define her wrestling persona.

Despite the pain of the tattooing process, Ripley was eager to start her journey into body art, considering it a thrilling experience that signified her new path in WWE:

“It was a really special day. It really was the start of my awesome career here within the WWE and my gradual change into The Nightmare, The Eradicator, the absolute brutality that you see today. It [the tattoo] definitely stung and I was a little bit thrown off with that, but I was also so excited to start this tattoo journey.”

A Symbol of Sisterly Bond

Another meaningful piece of ink Ripley has is a tattoo representing her bond with her younger sister, Calista. She explained that the tattoo symbolizes their unbreakable connection, regardless of distance or circumstances:

“We are sisters for life. It doesn’t matter how far we go in life or what the distance is between us. We’re always going to be there for each other and we’re always going to love each other. So we just wanted to have some sort of memento of our love.”

WrestleMania and the Crowned Sugar Skull

Ripley also shared the story behind her sugar skull tattoo adorned with a crown. She added the crown during WrestleMania 39 and Ripley claimed that she did so because she knew she was going to beat Charlotte Flair for HER crown:

“I added the crown to it at WrestleMania 39 because I was being cheeky. I was like, ‘I’m gonna get a crown because I’m going to take Charlotte Flair’s crown,’ so now I have a crown, and that’s exactly what I did.”

Vince McMahon Documentary Director Reveals Goal Behind The Series

Bishal Roy
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The Netflix docuseries on former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will release next month and the director has revealed the goal he had in mind while making the series.

The series, titled Mr. McMahon, with the tagline “Mastermind. Madman.” is set to release on September 25. It consists of six one-hour episodes.

Series director and executive producer Chris Smith recently shared the goal behind the series. He said that the goal behind the series was to bring out the real side of Vince McMahon amid the allegations he has faced. Smith said:

“The goal behind ‘Mr. McMahon’ was to pull back the curtain and reveal the true Vince McMahon, obscured beneath the persona he presented to the world. Over the four years of production, the story evolved in truly shocking ways, culminating in some extremely harrowing allegations. The final product is a revealing documentary that we believe offers a rich and nuanced portrait of the man and the complex legacy he left behind.”

Mr. McMahon docuseries will capture the rise and fall of Vince McMahon. The six-part series will depict how Vince transformed WWE from a small, regional business into a global juggernaut as well as the shocking sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation.

Vince McMahon had initially stepped down from WWE a couple of years back but he returned six months later. However, he departed the company again following the Janel Grant lawsuit which was filed in January earlier this year.

Netflix’s Mr. McMahon documentary series will be released a few months ahead of WWE Raw’s move to Netflix in 2025.

Ronda Rousey Reveals What WWE “Never Allowed” Her To Do

Jake Skudder
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Ronda Rousey, the former UFC champion and WWE superstar, recently opened up about her experience in WWE, revealing some surprising details about her time in the ring. In a recent appearance on the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, Rousey discussed her frustration with the limitations WWE placed on her, specifically regarding preparation time for her matches.

The Glory of WrestleMania 34

During the podcast, Ronda Rousey reminisced about her debut match at WrestleMania 34, a moment she described as the pinnacle of her WWE career.

“I got weeks to prepare, all the best minds in the business throwing their two cents in,” she shared. With the guidance of legends like Triple H, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, and others, Rousey felt fully prepared and excited for her debut. The extensive preparation and collaboration led to a memorable performance that night.

WWE’s Restrictions on Preparation Time

However, Rousey revealed that this level of preparation was a one-time opportunity. “I always wanted to recreate that feeling, but I was never allowed ever again,” she lamented.

According to Rousey, WWE did not provide her with the same amount of time and resources for her subsequent matches. As her WWE career progressed, she felt the organization didn’t give her enough time to prepare properly, which she believes affected her performance and the overall quality of her matches.

The Impact of Limited Resources

Rousey expressed disappointment over the lack of support and resources from WWE after her initial success. She mentioned that WWE’s approach of not “putting the machine behind” her or other talents limited what they could achieve.

“If they put the machine behind these people, they would be doing so much more than they are now,” she stated, pointing out the missed opportunities for both the performers and the company.

Donovan Dijak Appears In MLW For The First Time

Bishal Roy
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Former WWE wrestler Donovan Dijak recently made his impactful Major League Wrestling (MLW) debut at the promotion’s Summer of the Beasts event.

Earlier, a Doomsday clock was shown that counted down from roughly two hours. Little Guido, Nolo Kitano, Jimmy Lloyd, LSG were competing in a four-way scramble and the clock hit zero. This led to Dijak’s debut in the promotion.

The former RETRIBUTION member surprised the fans as he interrupted the match and took out all the competitors. Dijak had Mister Saint Laurent by his side and he went on to brutally attack all four wrestlers.

After wreaking havoc, Dijak said that he was going to be the next MLW World Champion and called out the likes of former WWE star Matt Riddle and Minoru Suzuki.

After being with WWE for seven years, Dijak abruptly parted ways with the company. During his run, he competed in NXT as well as on the main roster. However, he never won any titles. He challenged for the NXT tag team titles and NXT title in the past but couldn’t win. Following his WWE career, he has already won a championship in the indies.

Last month, the 37-year-old captured the Ryse Wrestling Grand Championship. Before that, the last time Dijak won a title was seven years back when he won the Pro Wrestling Resurgence Heavyweight Championship. Dijak has also made his presence felt backstage at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door this year.

SEScoops recently caught up with Donovan Dijak following his departure from WWE. You can check it out below:

Feast Your Eyes: A One-On-One With Donovan Dijak

Kevin Owens Explains Why He Was ‘Never Happy’ During His Universal Championship Run

Anutosh Bajpai
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Kevin Owens has revealed why he wasn’t happy during his run on the top in WWE and how his perspective has changed since then.

The former Universal Champion recently spoke to CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri ahead of the WWE Bash In Berlin PPV. He discussed things such as Sami Zayn being a very unreliable friend, Cody Rhodes’ journey to the top and more.

During the interview, Owens was asked about some comments he previously made about his mindset. Kevin had expressed that winning titles or main eventing WrestleMania was not as important for him anymore and instead, he was more focused on having fun and creating moments for fans to remember.

The 40-year-old explained his stance saying that wanting all these things is natural for anyone and things like winning a title is still flattering to him. He has just become less obsessed with chasing accolades because of a shift in mindset:

“I think what helped me be less obsessed, I guess, by that aspect of it is from 2015 to 2018, 2019—that’s all I could think about. That was when I was Champion all the time. I was Intercontinental Champion, I was US champion, I was the Universal champion, and I was never happy. Never happy. I always wanted to do more.

I wanted the next week to be bigger. I’d finish a match and think, ‘Okay, what’s next week now?’ And you know, the people I’d speak to were like, ‘I don’t know, we don’t know what’s next week, we’ll figure it out.’ You know what I mean? And I just—I really didn’t enjoy any of it as much as I should have.

Then I went away and had double knee surgery in 2018. I spent five months at home, away from it, and I think that really helped me put things in perspective. I really needed to get that time away because at that time, I’d been on the road for four years with WWE, and it’s like a train—you know, you get on and you just don’t get off. You don’t realize how quickly time passes.”

I’m Able To Pull Back: Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens made his main roster debut back in 2015 answering the US Open challenge of John Cena. He still held the NXT Championship during the time and Owens continued appearing on the development brand for a while.

His first singles title win on the main roster came at Night of Champions in September when KO defeated Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship. Between 2015 to 2018, the Prizefighter had two IC title runs, three US title reigns and one lengthy run with the Universal Championship.

The former champion went on a hiatus in October 2018. During this time he got the chance to appreciate everything he had achieved. According to Owens, a talk with Shawn Michaels during his break was instrumental in changing his perspective:

“When I went away, I talked to a lot of people about how it was really hard for me to shut it off and just not be consumed by wrestling all the time. I actually remember one of the very useful talks I had was with Shawn Michaels. I called him out of the blue, and he was kind enough to listen to me, and he just kind of helped me.

He told me in a lot of ways, throughout his career, he was a lot like me, always obsessed with ‘what’s next,’ not enjoying the ride. Just hearing it from somebody I looked up to so much just kind of helped me let go of that. And since then, I’ll still have my moments where I’m—you know, I get swept up, but I’m able to pull back, go like, ‘Hey, this is pretty incredible.’ Maybe it’s not perfect, or maybe it’s not the way you think it should be sometimes, but come on. That’s been very helpful.”

Kevin Owens is currently scheduled to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the Bash In Berlin special on August 31. You can check out streaming details of the show here.

Cody Rhodes, New Day To Feature On Scare Tactics Reboot

Bishal Roy
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USA Network’s show, ‘Scare Tactics’ is making a comeback next month. It has come to light that the show will feature guest stars such as WWE’s The New Day, and the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

A trailer suggests that Cody Rhodes scared The New Day. Kofi Kingston shared the trailer on social media and revealed how ‘The American Nightmare’ pranked them.

The return of the series was originally announced in July. The upcoming ‘Scare Tactics’ reboot has set its official premiere date. It has been announced that the horror-comedy prank series will premiere on October 4 at 10 p.m. ET on USA Network and it will also air simultaneously on fellow NBCUniversal networks Bravo, Syfy, and E!.

Flip has been named the host of the new season. He is described as “a spectral pre-teen obsessed with horror movies and fascinated by human fear.” He creates horrific cinematic scenarios and puts real people into the leading roles.

Scare Tactics

‘Scare Tactics’ is one of the most popular horror-comedy prank series. Each episode follows unsuspecting people as they are set up by family and friends to enter staged horror scenarios that are captured on hidden cameras.

The original ‘Scare Tactics’ aired for five seasons between 2003 and 2013 on Syfy. Shannen Doherty was the original host of the show, succeeded by Stephen Baldwin and Tracy Morgan.

Jordan Peele is the executive producer of ‘Scare Tactics’ with Win Rosenfeld and Jamal Watson under their Monkeypaw Productions banner. On the other hand, Scott Hallock is the executive producer for WMTI Productions, Inc. while Elan Gale is the executive producer and showrunner. WMTI Productions, Inc. owns the “Scare Tactics” format and Universal Television Alternative Studio produces in association with Monkeypaw and WMTI.

Hulk Hogan Trolled By Comedian At Real American Beer Event

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan is no stranger to controversy, from both his work in wrestling and outside the squared circle. Recently, the Hulkster stepped his giant boot inside the world of politics, resulting in an uncomfortable situation for the legend this week.

At a Real American Bear promotional event in Rhodes Island, comedian Robby Roadsteamer approached Hogan wearing a homemade ‘MAGA Powers’ shirt, a nod to Hogan’s recent endorsement of Donald Trump. Borrowing a line from Hogan, Roadsteamer asked “Whatchu gonna do when we drop the big boot on trans and everything? Does that work for you brother?” Trump and the Republican party have made their opposition to transgender rights clear throughout the campaign, with Trump threatening severe consequences to those who provide gender-affirming care if elected.

Robby didn’t stop there as he sang “Trump is a real felon. Then he went to Epstein Island” to the tune of Hogan’s ‘Real American’ theme song used in WWE. Security then stepped in to move Roadsteamer away from the uncomfortable Hogan.

Roadsteamer’s appearance at Hogan’s event comes one week after a man was arrested for protesting the two-time WWE Hall of Famer. Nathaniel Livington was arrested earlier this month after protesting Hogan’s appearance at a Kroger store in Liberty Township, Ohio. Livington was joined by others who protested after Hogan asked fans if they wanted him to bodyslam Kamala Harris and made ‘jokes’ about the race of the Vice President.

Hulk Hogan may fight for the rights of every man (according to his WWE theme song) but right now, his support is behind Donald Trump and the Republican Party in this November’s election. While Hogan has the right to endorse who he believes is fit for office, opponents of the Hulkster have as much right to make their views clear on the WWE legend.

Nikki Garcia’s Husband Artem Chigvintsev Posts Bail After Domestic Violence Arrest

Anutosh Bajpai
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Artem Chigvintsev, the husband of former WWE star Nikki ‘Bella’ Garcia was briefly arrested on Thursday in Napa, California on charges of domestic battery.

TMZ broke the story of his arrest noting that a 911 call was made from Chigvintsev’s home reporting a ‘medical emergency’ at around 8:30 AM in the morning. It’s unknown who made the call.

As paramedics and the fire department were en route, however, someone from the house called 911 again and cancelled the request but did not give a reason. The paramedics and fire department both returned to their stations after this call, never making it to the house.

At 10 AM that morning, the deputies responded to a domestic violence call, at a location in the town of Yountville. The Dancing With The Stars regular was arrested on the spot for felony corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant. In order to make the arrest for a felony, the injury on the victim has to be visible.

BBC News revealed that Chigvintsev had been arrested under section 273.5(a) of the California penal code – corporal injury to spouse. If charged as a felony, it could lead to up to a four-year sentence.

Artem has since been released from jail. People has confirmed that Artem was booked in Napa County Jail within an hour of his arrest. He was given a $25,000 bail and released at 2:18 PM PT according to the county records.

Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev

Nikki Garcia fka Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev first met when they were paired together on the 25th season of the Dancing With The Stars reality show in 2017.

Garcia was still in a relationship with her then-fiancé John Cena at the time but the couple split up a year later. Bella reconnected with Chigvintsev the same year and they announced their engagement in late 2019.

The couple welcomed their son Matteo in July 2020 and they officially got married in a private ceremony held in Paris in August 2022. The duo own a home together in Napa Valley and Instagram stories indicate Garcia was in Napa on Wednesday, presumably to celebrate their second wedding anniversary.

At the time of this writing, the identity of the alleged victim has not been revealed as they have asked for total confidentiality per sheriff’s rep.

The Napa County Sheriff’s Office has said that the alleged victim has so far been open to talking with investigators. They have provided some info as to what happened and law enforcement wants the alleged victim to help determine if there is a history of domestic violence with Artem.

The investigation remains ongoing and there is a possibility of other witnesses in the case. The Sheriff’s Office is also planning to discuss the case with prosecutors, with one of the topics of discussion being potential criminal charges against Artem.

Stay tuned with SEScoops for more details on the story.

You can call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for Domestic Violence Hotline or text START to 88788. More details about the issues can be found at US Department of Justice website here.

Update On Nikki Cross’ WWE Status Amid The Wyatt Sicks Run

Thomas Lowson
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WWE boasts one of the largest and most impressive rosters in all of wrestling, constructed of talented individuals from across the globe. Now, one name fans can expect to see much more of in WWE from here on is The Wyatt Sicks’ Nikki Cross.

The 35-year-old from Glasgow, Scotland has signed a new contract with WWE, Fightful Select reports. Negotiations between the two sides had been ongoing since spring, the report adds, before the debut of The Wyatt Sicks on Monday Night RAW.

While Cross hasn’t wrestled for WWE since November of last year, her role in the Uncle Howdy-led faction has ensured her regular TV time. The group

There’ll be no shortage of people in WWE pleased to see Cross re-sign with the company. Sources within WWE who spoke to Fightful have had positive things to say about her. During the pandemic, numerous extras reached out to Fightful to speak about how welcoming Cross had been.

WWE Re-Signings

Cross is the latest notable name to put pen to paper and reportedly re-sign with WWE this year. In June, fellow Scotland native Drew McIntyre re-signed with WWE after lengthy speculation that he could be leaving. McIntyre’s new deal was publicly confirmed by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson of TKO’s Board of Directors, who gifted McIntyre a sword.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Randy Orton has re-signed with WWE. With a reported five-year length, this new contract will keep the 14-time WWE World Champion on the roster until summer 2029. Angel and Berto signed new contracts with WWE. The pair currently appear on SmackDown as part of Legado Del Fantasma.

Matt Cardona Revisits Hugh Jackman Putting Him Over (Exclusive)

Dominic DeAngelo
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Hugh Jackman believes Matt Cardona’s Zack Ryder is greater than Wolverine, but what about PCO? 

Fans will find out on August 30 as Cardona will step foot into the ring with the inhuman PCO at TNA Emergence. He’ll be  fighting for the rights to SDL, Stephanie De Lander, whom Cardona called his property. While speaking with Dominic DeAngelo of One True Sport Cardona made clear that he was a little miffed when Steph, his longtime ally, didn’t invite him to the wedding between her and PCO. “That’s why I had to crash it,” he said.

However, if there’s anything Cardona could pull from his past to give him extra reassurance against the French Canadian Frankenstein, it could be from him once crossing paths with the “Canadian Mutant” in Wolverine, aka Hugh Jackman.

Cardona & Hugh: The Original Deadpool & Wolverine

It’s been over ten years since Jackman became the guest host of the September 19 episode of WWE RAW in 2011, but the movie star came to the aid of Matt by slugging Nic Nemeth and helping him get a victory that night.

“He was so cool, man. Hugh Jackman was incredible.”

– Matt Cardona on working with ‘Wolverine’ Hugh Jackman

Cardona said this was just around the time where WWE finally began acknowledging the popularity of his YouTube channel. Jackman pulled all stops out to help Cardona get Ryder over that night and to this day ‘The Indy God’ thank Hugh for digging his claws into the pro wrestling ring.

“I think it took it to a whole another level and he was such a great guy about itHe like wore my headband. Like he didn’t have to wear my headband out there, right?

I was telling him backstage about the YouTube show he asked if he could be on it. He filmed an open for me and the best part, he held up a sign in early in the night, I don’t think he really read the sign, but it said ‘Ryder is greater than Wolverine.’”

Cardona added how happy he’s been for Jackman’s success as Deadpool & Wolverine has been the blockbuster of the summer and the movie has its wrestling ties, featuring Tyler Mane, former WCW wrestler, reprising his role as Sabertooth.

Former WCW Announcer Mark Madden Re-Signs With Longtime Radio Gig (UPDATE)

Dominic DeAngelo
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(Author’s note: Madden revealed on the afternoon of 8/29/24 that he actually re-signed with 109.5 The X after noting his contract was expiring this week)

If you’re familiar with WCW or Pittsburgh sports, you’re familiar with Mark Madden, and the sports radio host may be on the verge of a new venture.

The former WCW color commentator has an extensive history in the world of wrestling and earlier this week, Madden teased on social media that it may be his last week at his current radio residence, “109.5 The X” out of Pittsburgh. On Tuesday, Madden said on the air that his contract was going to be running out in four days time while explaining he’s one of the rare media names to be critical of the Steelers in the Pittsburgh area.

“I’m going to be very honest here. And, like, I say what I mean. I’m not like other people on the radio in Pittsburgh, especially now with four days left of my contract,” he said.

“I‘m not like the other people on the radio in Pittsburgh who say stuff for cause and effect. Everything I say, I mean. I’m not a hater. Saying this team’s going to go 9-8, it isn’t being a hater. It is, in fact, being cautiously optimistic if you operate on the reality-based side of the street.”

– Mark Madden, via Awful Announcing

Madden’s main speciality in Pittsburgh is discussing Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, but obviously being a daily sports talk host, he isn’t afraid to criticize the Steelers. Madden was also one of the sports writers to be on the forefront of the infamous Joe Paterno & Jerry Sandusky Penn State scandal in 2011.

Even after his WCW exit, Madden kept tabs on the product, was the ghost-writer for Ric Flair’s autobiography and even co-hosted Flair’s podcast before the two long-time friends had a public falling out. Madden also teamed with current AEW EVP and Head Of Global Operations, Mike Mansury, for a podcast before the two amicably parted ways.

On Thursday afternoon, Madden noted that he re-signed with the station, with the money being the same but much like Roman Reigns, will have a lighter schedule moving forward.

Check Out: WWE Shop Releases Iconic WCW/NWO N64 Video Game Shirts

WWE Star Reveals 1 Important Trait Taylor Swift Shares With Roman Reigns

Dominic DeAngelo
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Baron Corbin got to hang out with Taylor Swift and saw some similarities between her and ‘The Tribal Chief’ in Roman Reigns. Speaking with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for VInsider, Corbin recalled how great Taylor Swift was to interact with at a Kansas City Chiefs game who Corbin is a massive fan of.

“The magnitude that she brings to everything and anything. It was awesome, but the biggest takeaway for me is when you are around her, she doesn’t act like a star. She acts like a normal amazing person. She is very sweet. As soon as I was introduced to her, she gives you a big hug. Then you’re like, “This is crazy. She is the biggest star on the planet right now.” To see someone so humble and how they carry themselves. In that way, it’s nice to see. It really teaches you that when people have an ego they shouldn’t.”

Corbin said how great it was for someone as popular as Taylor to not have an ego and Baron noted that Reigns was like that for the WWE locker room.

“It really teaches you that when people have an ego they shouldn’t. You look at how the biggest star in the world acts. You should be the same. It’s the same reason I say in our locker room that if Roman Reigns doesn’t have an ego, nobody on this roster should. He is the standard at the top.”

Corbin did say that he did thik there are similarities between wrestling fans and Swifties, noting that both fanbases are diehards. Both have a tendency to defend their cherished star with guns ablazing.

Swift shares added pro wrestling ties besides meeting up with Corbin. She notoriously babysat Jeff Jarrett’s kids with Jarrett noting how great Taylor was to his family during such a difficult time.

Vince McMahon Netflix Documentary Series Premieres September 25

Dominic DeAngelo
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The Vince McMahon documentary series is happening and Netflix has a date in place for people to watch.

On Thursday, Netflix announced ‘Mr. McMahon’ will be begin streaming September 25, 2024. The tagline is, “Mastermind. Madman.” The first details released by Netflix indicate the Janel Grant case will be fair game:

“Mr. McMahon, a documentary series chronicling the rise and fall of the WWE’s controversial founder, is coming to Netflix on September 25. From Chris Smith, Executive Producer of Tiger King, and Bill Simmons.

Including interviews with McMahon prior to his resignation, his family, and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history. As well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations.”

Vince McMahon, WWE and Netflix

Netflix’s ‘Mr. McMahon’ documentary series drops only a few months before WWE Raw ‘cuts the cord’ and makes Netflix its new home starting in January 2025. The fact that this documentary is airing is quite telling as to how WWE likely wants to position themselves when it comes to the allegations.

Additionally, Bill Simmons who is an executive producer on the documentary, has always had a positive relationship with the company. The scandal has been a big talking point for pro wrestling fans and wrestlers alike, and was recently referenced by AEW’s MJF on social media.

Vince McMahon initially stepped down from WWE in 2022 only to return six months later, before ultimately leaving the company following the Janel Grant lawsuit which was filed in January 2024.

WWE Officials Happy with How RAW Backstage Segment Played Out

Jake Skudder
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On the latest episode of WWE RAW, fans witnessed an intense and unexpected brawl between Bronson Reed and Braun Strowman that spilled out of the ring and into the parking lot.

Read More – WWE RAW Schedule: Dates, Venues and more

Backstage Reactions to the Brawl

Enthusiasm Among WWE Staff

According to a new report from Fightful Select, there was considerable excitement and positive buzz backstage regarding how the brawl between Reed and Strowman played out.

WWE officials and creative team members were particularly pleased with the segment’s intensity and the risks taken by both performers.

Potential Implications for Future Storylines

The enthusiastic backstage response suggests that WWE may capitalize on the success of the segment by further developing the rivalry between Bronson Reed and Braun Strowman, or it could just be another step in the push for Reed up the card after he demolished Seth Rollins in recent weeks.

Ilja Dragunov ‘Emotional’ As Career Comes Full Circle During WWE Tour

Bishal Roy
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WWE is heading to Germany for this weekend’s Bash In Berlin PLE and former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov is quite emotional on his return to the city. Dragunov was born in Russia but raised in Berlin, where he kicked off his career.

Speaking to Metro, Ilja Dragunov said that his career is bringing him back to the city where he ‘made his beginnings in this business.’ He spoke about WWE making history in Germany where he not only grew up as a human but also as a performer. He said:

“It is such a wonderful emotional, wild time right now for me, because everything for me is like a whole circle. We’re making history in my country, where I grew up, and not only grew up as as a human, just grew up as a performer. I competed in all those cities.”

Dragunov started his training at the German Wrestling Federation (GWF) training school under veterans Axel Tischer (Alexander Wolfe in WWE) and Rick Baxxter. The 30-year-old gained popularity in wXw and PROGRESS Wrestling before signing with WWE. Now, Ilja is a part of WWE’s ongoing Road To Bash In Berlin tour and performing in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. He faced his arch-rival the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther during WWE’s stop in Oberhausen, Germany, on August 27.

During the interview, Dragunov said that it’s the beauty of pro wrestling that his career is coming full circle. He added:

“And just this comparison from back in the day, from the indie scene where I made my first touches with this business, to now where I’m at the peak of my career. It just shows me how beautiful this, this, this profession is, and how proud I am to be a part of it.”

On next week’s Raw, Ilja Dragunov will compete against Dragon Lee and Dominik Mysterio in a triple threat match in the Intercontinental Title No.1 Contenders Tournament Match. The winner will advance to join Jey Uso and Pete Dunne on their quest to capture the Intercontinental title, currently held by Bron Breakker.

Bryan Danielson Isn’t Done With Full Time Yet, Jack Perry Attacks

Dominic DeAngelo
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Bryan Danielson considered his AEW World Championship win the greatest moment of his life for several reasons, but leave it to Jack Perry to put a damper on his celebration.

Danielson walked away from ALL IN the new World Champion after he made Swerve Strickland submit, a first in AEW, and on this week’s Dynamite, Bryan was looking for his first challenger, but not before he made a few things clear.

At first, Danielson teased that he may be retiring as champ, noting that he’s going to need neck surgery again soon and the promise he made to his daughter, but got Champaign, Illinois amped back up when he said he wasn’t done yet.

He planned to wrestle full time until he lost that title which he didn’t plan on doing anytime soon. That’s when Danielson issued a “first come, first serve” challenge to anyone in the locker room. Jack Perry appeared on the big screen and mentioned the two’s brief history with one another. Suddenly a reveal was made when Perry attacked Danieslon from behind and it was ‘The Scapegoat’ who stood tall to end the show.

Perry is indeed a surprise challenger for Danielson despite getting a definitive victory against Darby Allin at AEW ALL IN. With less than two weeks before AEW ALL OUT, many fans speculated that the quick feud would be against Christian Cage who won a future title shot at the PPV. Being a false father figure, Cage has a built-in story with Danielson considering how major of a plot Brie Garcia and his kids have been. However, that appears to be a feud further down the line.

Mariah May Postpones Her Championship Celebration For A Better Venue

Dominic DeAngelo
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Mariah May was dressed to celebrate her AEW Women’s Championship win, but decided against doing so in Champaign, IL.

May took out her former friend in Toni Storm to become the new champ this past Sunday at AEW ALL IN and a celebration was advertised for this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. Tony Schiavone was standing on stage during the show and introduced the new champion, who merely came out with a black silk robe on. However, there were no fireworks, balloons or champagnes as May decided that Champaign, IL wasn’t fit for such an occassion.

She ran down the town, claiming it should be called “p*** warm beer” instead of Champaign, and then made a vulgar implication towards the average looking women of the area.

May had Schiavone all kinds of flustered in his ‘Mean Gene’ Okerlund role, and probably got a good deal of the viewing audience the same way when she opened up her robe to show a revealing outfit along with her newly won title.

Mariah wasn’t the only woman celebrating that evening as Mercedes Mone had a little backstage bubbly to celebrate her victory against Britt Baker. Private Party tried crashing the party, but Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen were removed from the premises with a little help from Kazuchika Okada.

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