All Elite Wrestling/AEW returns to the UK with its highly anticipated “All In” event at Wembley Stadium tonight. The excitement kicks off with the “Zero Hour” pre-show, which features thrilling matches and sets the tone for the main event.
If you’re eager to catch every moment, here’s how you can watch the AEW All In London Zero Hour Pre-Show live stream.
How to Watch AEW All In London Zero Hour Pre-Show Live Stream
To watch the AEW All In London Zero Hour Pre-Show live, fans have several options. The pre-show is available for free on AEW’s official YouTube channel and Facebook page, making it accessible to a global audience.
What Time Does the AEW All In London Zero Hour Pre-Show Start?
The AEW All In London Zero Hour Pre-Show is set to begin at 4 pm BST on Sunday, August 27, 2024. Make sure to tune in early to catch all the preliminary matches and exclusive content that set the stage for the main card.
What to Expect from the AEW All In London Zero Hour Pre-Show
There will be a Pre-Show Match between Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway vs. Willow Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii taking place on Zero Hour as well as build up to the main card itself!
AEW (All Elite Wrestling) returns to London for the highly anticipated “All In” event, and fans worldwide are gearing up for a huge PPV show. One of the highlights leading up to the main event is the “Zero Hour” pre-show. To help fans catch every moment, we’ve compiled the AEW All In London Zero Hour pre-show start times for various regions, including the UK, US, Australia, and more.
AEW All In London Zero Hour Pre-Show Start Time
The AEW All In London Zero Hour pre-show is scheduled to start two hours before the main card. This pre-show features exclusive matches and analysis, setting the stage for the main event. Here’s a breakdown of the start times by region.
Zero Hour Pre-Show Start Time in the UK
For fans in the United Kingdom, the Zero Hour pre-show begins at 4:00 PM BST. The main card of AEW All In will follow at 6:00 PM BST, ensuring fans have ample time to settle in and enjoy the complete experience from start to finish.
Zero Hour Pre-Show Start Time in the US
In the United States, the start time varies by region:
Eastern Time (ET): The Zero Hour pre-show will kick off at 11:00 AM ET, with the main card starting at 1:00 PM ET.
Central Time (CT): The pre-show begins at 10:00 AM CT, with the main event at 12:00 PM CT.
Pacific Time (PT): For fans on the west coast, the Zero Hour pre-show starts at 8:00 AM PT, with the main event following at 10:00 AM PT.
Zero Hour Pre-Show Start Time in Australia
Australian fans can catch the Zero Hour pre-show early in the morning. Here are the local start times:
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): The pre-show begins at 1:00 AM AEST on the following day, with the main card starting at 3:00 AM AEST.
Australian Western Standard Time (AWST): The pre-show will start at 11:00 PM AWST, with the main event commencing at 1:00 AM AWST the next day.
Bryan Danielson wants to move away from the spotlight after he has retired from wrestling.
The 43-year-old will be putting his career on the line when he challenges Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Title at Sunday’s All In event. Bryan has previously revealed that his contract with the company has already expired, so there is a lot of chatter about what he plans to do after the show.
Tony Khan has stated multiple times that he would love for Danielson to stick around in whatever role he sees fit. For someone as knowledgeable as the wrestling veteran, there are a lot of career opportunities even if he chooses to never wrestle again.
During a recent interview with TMZ Sports, fellow WWE alumni Dean Muhtadi asked the AEW star about his plans after his retirement. Bryan explained that a lot of options have been presented to him, but he isn’t interested in any of them:
“So I don’t know. I’ve had people want me to do lots of things and I don’t really want to do any of them. I’d really like to just disappear. At least from the public eye.
What I’d really like to do is help with the community, help with…like be involved in my kids’ lives. As far as like my wife got to coach our son’s t-ball team last year, I’d love to be able to do that this year. Those sorts of things. Those are the kind of things that I’m putting focus and priority on.
I’d Like To Just Retreat Into The Forest: Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson then revealed an interesting conversation he had with fellow BCC member Claudio Castagnoli, while also discussing the downsides of being in the spotlight:
“Claudio had just mentioned to me on Wednesday when we were driving back to our hotel after Dynamite, he goes, ‘You know, Bryan, whenever you’re done, I kind of hope I never see you again.’ What he meant by that, and then he added later, he was like, ‘I mean I’d love to come visit you at your house, like far away from everybody, but I kind of hope that that’s it.’
Because I think he kind of knows that that’s what I want. You know what I mean it’s to kind of disappear. There’s definitely benefits to being in the spotlight but then there’s also a lot of trade-offs. I think sometimes if you experience mental health issues and stuff like that, being in the spotlight isn’t necessarily a good thing.
So yeah, I’d like to just kind of retreat into the forest. I don’t watch a lot of TV but I vaguely remember Homer Simpson, he’s in the bushes and he just slowly disappears out, right. That’s me but into the woods.”
AEW All In will be coming live from the Wembley stadium in London. International viewers can check out local start times and other details for the show here.
El Hijo del Vikingo has set his sights on the AAA Mega Championship after making his return to the promotion’s programming this week. On the latest episode of AAA Lucha Libre, Alberto El Patron and Konnan were in a backstage segment interrupted by the returning Vikingo.
— Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (@luchalibreaaa) August 25, 2024
Later on, El Patron was asked about Vikingo’s return and made clear he was in no mood to discuss the former champion.
“You are in my locker room and come here to talk about Hijo del Vikingo, who looks like a member of Kumbia Kings? He comes in sandals, he probably doesn’t even know Spanish because I do not understand the dialect coming out of his mouth. I do not need to give an explanation to anyone, much less you.”
— Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (@luchalibreaaa) August 25, 2024
El Hijo del Vikingo held the AAA Mega Championship from December 2021 to March of this year and his 833-day reign is the longest in the title’s history. Vikingo’s reign came to an end due to an injury which he underwent surgery for in February.
El Hijo del Vikingo had been making serious waves, both in and out of AAA before his injury. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on El Hijo del Vikingo and his quest to regain the AAA Mega Championship.
Ronda Rousey learned a lot from her rivalry with Alexa Bliss but wishes WWE had put more thought into this feud.
The former WWE star recently had an interview with Ring The Belle to promote her new comic book. She talked about things such as having WWE cameos in her comics, cutting heel promos, and more.
When the topic of rivalry with the Goddess of WWE came up, Rousey mentioned how she first thought that the company was just trying to make her a better wrestler by putting her with Bliss:
“Well at the time I was like ‘Oh well maybe they’re just trying to like make me be a better wrestler and be able to sell for someone who’s as big as my leg and make it convincing.’ But really it just came down to the fact that Vince didn’t pay any attention to us and just looked at ‘Oh she sells the most merch, Ronda’s hot right now, put them together.’
That was as much thought as he put into it. That started a long legacy of having to make chicken shit into chicken salad. But I learned a lot from her. She taught me like okay we’re going to have to lead on like comedy and story and expressions and stuff like that to be able to get people into this.”
Ronda Rousey defeated Alexa Bliss to win her first wrestling title Raw Women’s Championship at the 2018 SummerSlam event. The two would have several more house show matches and another televised bout at Hell In A Cell before Rousey moved on to a feud with Nikki Bella.
According to the former UFC star, the ring time with Bliss taught her a lot of things and made her a much better wrestler. Though she still wishes that the company had put more thought into it:
“So it definitely made me into a much better wrestler and much more diverse in the ring and not just leaning on athleticism and spots and stuff like that when I’m dealing with somebody who is not only smaller than me and can’t support my weight or anything like that but she was also suffering from different kinds of injuries and things like that.
There were just a lot of things that were prohibitive and off limits. I’m used to working with people that are supposed to be able to withstand me actually trying to hurt them with my bare hands. Then I’m getting in there with somebody like ‘Okay I have to make this physical and believable but also take care of her.’
So that was something completely new. I learned a whole lot from that but I wish that there was a lot more thought put into it from the very top. But they were just setting the tone of like ‘Okay this is what it’s going to be. We’re going to throw stuff at you without putting any thought into it and you guys are going to have to put in the thought to make it work.'”
After Nikki Bella, Ronda Rousey would successfully defend the Raw Women’s Title against names such as Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, and Bayley. She finally dropped the title to Becky Lynch in the main event of WrestleMania 35, ending her first run with the company.
WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Garcia will sink her teeth into the world of competitive eating next month as part of an upcoming Netflix special. Joey Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef will stream on Netflix on September 2 and will feature a stacked card of competitive eaters. Garica will be joined by actor/comedian Rob Riggle, broadcaster Cari Champion and sportscaster Chris Rose.
The titular showdown will see Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi face off in a battle to see who can eat the most hot dogs. The pair last went head to head in September 2009 and Kobayashi stomached 93 dogs to Chestnut’s 81.
The main event will be preceded by two undercards matches. Competitive eater, YouTuber and 2015 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest winner Matt Stonie will face an opponent yet to be announced, while another match will feature Guinness World Record holder for eating Leah Shutkever.
Fans in the U.S. will have access to Monday Night Raw each week, while those outside of the States will receive Raw, SmackDown, WWE NXT, and Premium Live Events. Netflix will not cover monthly PLEs in areas where deals are already in place with other distributors, such as India.
Japanese wrestling sensation Giulia has finished her time in the country, ahead of a reported run as part of the WWE NXT roster. In a gauntlet match, Giulia faced the entire Marigold roster, who were each given a minute in the ring with the WWE prospect. Giulia’s final opponent was Utami Hayashista in the first-ever singles showdown between the two STARDOM alum.
The Giulia Farewell Gauntlet comes to an end with Utami being the last opponent. ????
After the match, the entire roster emerged once more to celebrate Giulia and Rossy Ogawa presented her with a large bouquet of flowers. An emotional Giulia spoke of her love for the roster and the fans before ending with a message to “Shine forever, Marigold!”
Giulia announced earlier this year that she would be wrapping up her time competing in Japan but isn’t finished in the ring. It has been reported that she has signed with WWE and won’t just be part of the NXT brand, but will be a leading name in the women’s division, rivaling the impact of Asuka. WWE NXT’s next major event will be the No Mercy show that will take place next week on September 1.
Giulia appeared for WWE at NXT Stand & Deliver in April of this year and if she joins, will be the latest prominent woman to sign with WWE. Stephanie Vaquer signed with WWE earlier this year, mere days after competing at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door 2024. DELTA, who is said to have impressed at the Elimination Chamber: Perth tryouts, has reportedly signed with the promotion.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Giulia and her future in the ring now that her time competing in Japan is officially over.
Darby Allin isn’t holding back his feelings about Jack Perry and the infamous All In: London 2023 incident that reshaped Perry’s career. In an interview with Kenny McIntosh of Inside The Ropes, Allin didn’t mince words, calling Perry “ungrateful” for his actions at last year’s event.
“You think of 80,000-plus fans, and then you’re gonna go into business for yourself. There are literally people who would die for that opportunity, people who will never get to do that, and then you’re more focused on that.”
Perry’s ‘real glass’ comment during last year’s match with HOOK resulted in a backstage altercation with CM Punk that in the eyes of many, overshadowed AEW’s first stadium event. At the post-show media scrum, AEW President Tony Khan acknowledged that an incident had taken place but said he would not be taking questions on the matter.
Punk was released for his role in the altercation, and would return to WWE a few months later at Survivor Series in Chicago. While Perry was hit with a lengthy suspension, the incident has redefined the AEW TNT Champion as the ‘Scapegoat’ and his change of character has made him one of AEW’s top stars.
Jack Perry will defend the AEW TNT Championship against Darby Allin later today at AEW All In: London 2024. The pair will collide in a Coffin Match in what has become one of the most personal and intense rivalries in AEW today. AEW All In: London 2024 will take place from Wembley Stadium in London, England. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from the show including breaking news and live results.
Former Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn has joined a line of WWE Superstars to undergo Stem Cell Therapy to aid his health and career. On Instagram, The RejuvStem Medical Center shared a video of Zayn and Viking Raider Ivar at their premises in Cancun.
“You never know who is going to show up here at RejuvStem Cancun! Today we have WWE Superstar @samizayn joining WWE Superstar @ivar_wwe to receive stem cell therapy for a career’s worth of nagging injuries.
“Each superstar has spent over 20 years respectfully performing all around the world. At this stage of their respective careers, both IVAR as well as SAMI recognize the importance of taking care of their bodies so they can continue performing for the WWE Universe for years to come.“
As reported earlier this week, Ivar underwent Stem Cell Therapy to aid with a career of injuries. Ivar hasn’t competed since May of this year, when he unsuccessfully challenged North American Champion Oba Femi at NXT Spring Breakin’ (Week Two.) He was promptly written off TV with an attack by Gallus. Zayn hasn’t wrestled on WWE TV since his two-out-of-three-falls defeat to Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker on the August 12, RAW.
Stem Cells have two main features that make them valuable in treatments such as these: they are self-replicating and can become various types of cells. Stem Cells are also considered controversial as there have been debates as to the ethics of research involving the development and use of human embryos. Not all stem cell research involves human embryos.
Exactly one year ago today, the world lost one of its most creative and vibrant beings in Windham Rotunda, better known to the wrestling industry as Bray Wyatt. Wyatt left an unforgettable mark on the WWE Universe in a career that spanned just over a decade. A former three-time World Champion, an accurate measure of success came from his unmatched storytelling abilities.
Today’s date brings up strong emotions for fans, colleagues, and loved ones. While we mourn, it’s also a chance to celebrate Wyatt for his contributions to professional wrestling and remember him as the friend, husband, brother, and father he was. Wyatt’s widow, Jojo Offerman, perfectly summed up this sentiment in a lengthy, heartfelt tribute to her late husband on Instagram.
“…Today is a reminder of the worst day of my life, but also a reminder to never take anything for granted. Today, like everyday, I remember you Windham, and all that you were. We miss you and we love you and life will never be the same without you…I love you, forever.
An innovator of the highest caliber, Wyatt created one of the most enthralling and authentic supernatural characters in wrestling history, with his only comparables being names like The Undertaker.
From the original Wyatt Family to The Fiend to his final run alongside Uncle Howdy, WWE fans had the privilege to watch a modern-day genus create immersive and layered stories inside and outside the ring.
Wyatt’s vision and passion were masterfully painted into this world like a rich tapestry, like an artist with an isle. As the man said, he strived to be “The color red in a world of black and white.”
Many others have shared their thoughts about Bray Wyatt on the anniversary of his passing. This includes former WWE superstars Matt Hardy and Top Dolla, as well as current RAW General Manager Adam Pearce:
It’s been a year exactly since we lost a great man, an incredible father & one of the most creative minds ever in wrestling, Windham Rotunda. I miss you & love you, brother. Rest in Power, my compeer. ?? pic.twitter.com/8bpQmZLDJV
WWE Hall of Famer John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield shocked fans by appearing for Game Changer Wrestling at the promotion’s Homecoming event. In the main event, Mance Warner retained the GCW World Heavyweight Championship in a triple-threat ladder match with former champion Joey Janela and Blake Christian.
The finish of the match saw Matt Cardona, GCW’s General Manager, try to insert himself in the match but he was taken out by 1 Called Manders. When Effy arrived to try and stop Warner from winning, JBL emerged from the crowd to take him out. Bradshaw took down Effy with a punch before delivering a duo of Clotheslines from Hell.
With Effy disposed of, Warner was able to capture the GCW World Heavyweight Championship. Warner has held the gold since June of this year after cashing in his Do or Die contract, guaranteeing him a title match with Janela.
This is just the latest promotion outside of WWE that the former WWE World Champion has appeared for. Earlier this month, JBL was at AAA TripleMania XXXII: Mexico City. JBL accompanied fellow WWE alum Nic Nemeth for his AAA Mega Championship match with Alberto El Patron.
Although his days competing are very much in the past, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield remains a huge name in the world of professional wrestling, as seen at GCW Homecoming. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on JBL and where the self-professed Wrestling Gold appears next in the industry.
Mariah May and Toni Storm haven’t waited for AEW All In: London 2024 to get their hands on one another as the pair brawled at the All In Celebration. At the Wembley Park event, May was taking part in an interview with RJ City when Toni Storm made a surprise appearance to attack the woman who’ll challenge for her AEW Women’s World Title.
The confrontation escalated quickly, with Storm even attempting to throw a stool at May before they were separated. Grabbing the mic, Storm asked if May was prepared to die and said that her life will be very different in 24 hours, after their match.
Toni Storm attacked Mariah May at today's ALL IN Celebration at the Box Park Wembley!
Mariah May shocked the wrestling world by turning on Toni Storm after winning the 2023 Owen Hart Women’s Foundation Tournament. Storm was left a bloody mess due to the attack the feud has only intensified since then, with Storm even going so far as to ask May if she is “ready to die.”
The pair had previously been allies on TV with May helping Storm in her efforts to remain AEW Women’s World Champion. This weekend’s match will mark May’s first time competing inside Wembley Stadium and the second for Storm who wrestled at All In 2023.
AEW All In: London 2024
AEW All In: London 2024 will take place from Wembley Stadium on August 31, and will be AEW’s second event inside Wembley Stadium. Currently, ten matches have been announced for the evening, including eight title matches. The show will begin at 5:00 pm British Standard Time, which is 1:00 pm PT.
AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone feels truly seen as part of Tony Khan’s first promotion and has said that hasn’t always been the case in her career. Writing for The Independent ahead of this weekend’ AEW All In: London 2024 event, Mone spoke of the respect she is shown as an ‘All Elite’ talent.
“In WWE you have no idea what you’ll be doing week to week, but here I have space to be heard. Along with Tony Khan and with my friend and personal writer Jennifer Pepperman, there’s time to sit down and really plan out the kinds of stories we want to tell.
“I’m treated with genuine respect, and I really feel seen in a way I sometimes haven’t before. I love it so much here.”
Mone joined AEW at the Big Business: Dynamite show in March of this year, close to two years after she and Naomi walked out of WWE in May of 2022. Mone would subsequently join New Japan Pro Wrestling where she is a former IWGP Women’s Champion.
What’s To Come?
Mone will put her TBS Championship on the line at AEW All In: London 2024 against Britt Baker, a match fans have been itching to see long before Mone was ‘All Elite.’ On this week’s Dynamite, Baker addressed Mone’s past as ‘one of four’ (a nod to her role in WWE’s Four Horsewomen) while the DMD sees herself as one-of-a-kind.
AEW All In: London 2024 will take place tomorrow, August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on All In: London 2024, including live results.
The first-ever WWE Speed Women’s Champion will be decided in a tournament. This week, fans got their first look at the Superstars who have the chance to etch their name in the history books.
Fans at this week’s SmackDown didn’t have to wait long to see WWE Speed women’s division matches. During a dark match, Lyra Valkyria took on IYO SKY. The tournament will begin airing on X on September 4.
WWE Speed consists of three-minute matches meaning Superstars have to waste no time in order to score a victory over their opponent. Matches for the Men’s WWE Speed Championship are granted a five-minute limit. Ricochet was the first WWE Speed Champion but he has since lost the gold to current champion (and longest reigning champion) Andrade.
WWE’s Fastest Matches
Three minutes may not seem like a lot of time, but there are some matches that more than fit this time limit. On the September 4, 2000, episode of Raw, Chris Jericho and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler defeated Tazz and Mideon, with Lawler getting the roll-up over Tazz and his team winning in three seconds.
Aliyah scored a 3.17-second win over Natalya during a January 2022, edition of SmackDown. WWE would lean heavily into the win, with the now former Superstar receiving an ‘Aliyah 3:17’ shirt to celebrate her victory. Aliyah was released from WWE in 2023 though, so don’t expect her to be racking up wins on WWE Speed.
Drew McIntyre competed in a fun dark match after this week’s episode of SmackDown from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. went off air.
The Scottish Warrior wasn’t part of the show but he wrestled in one of the two dark matches of the night. In the first dark match, Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan squared off against Kairi Sane.
The second dark match then saw Drew McIntyre taking on Jey Uso. Despite being late in night, the crowd was super excited for Uso’s entrance and he got a huge ovation.
At one point in the bout, Jey tried to entice McIntyre into doing the Yeet, telling him that the crowd will stop chanting the name of CM Punk if he did so. In the end, Jey won the match after rolling Drew up for the pin.
Tonight’s episode of SmackDown featured a number of top stars in action. The Greyson Waller Effect was the opening segment of the night where a match between Waller & Theory and Cody Rhodes & Kevin Owens was made official.
During the show, LA Knight successfully defended the US Championship against Santos Escobar while The Bloodline managed to retain the tag team championships against The Street Profits, using the numbers to their advantage.
The tag team match featuring the Undisputed WWE Champion was the main event. Owens won the match for his team after pinning Waller. After the match, the company briefly teased KO turning on Cody when he had the WWE title in his hands but he ultimately decided against it.
Sting and Lex Luger, who were once one of the most impressive tag-teams of their generation, were able to reunite at the 58th annual reunion of the Cauliflower Alley Club. On Twitter, Sting shared a photo of himself and his friend and former tag team partner.
Sting attended the reunion to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, the highest honor awarded by the club. The award is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler. Previous recipients include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE RAW Superstar CM Punk. Several notable names attended this year’s reunion, including ‘Bowl Cut Kid’ from WWF and WCW pay-per-views in the 1990s.
Sting & Lex Luger
Sting and Luger first began teaming in April 1988 when Luger was without a partner for the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. Luger had previously been teaming with Barry Windham, who had betrayed Luger to join the Four Horseman. Despite not being an established team, Sting and Luger would go the distance and defeat Arn and Tully Blanchard in the finals.
The genuine friendship of Sting and Luger was no secret in wrestling, even when the pair found themselves on opposing sides in WCW. In fact, it was a phone call between the two in 1995 that resulted in Luger returning to WCW. Luger made his comeback on the debut edition of WCW Monday Nitro despite being offered much less than what he was making when he previously worked for the promotion.
What is the Cauliflower Alley Club?
Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name.
The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.
Bobby Lashley has explained his recent comments about WWE’s leadership, which some took as a swipe at the current regime of Triple H. Earlier this month, Lashley said that Vince McMahon “understood me” and that the former WWE Chairman “looked at me like a star.” Lashley went on to say that he hasn’t had “too much of a connection with Hunter.”
Bobby Lashley preferred Vince McMahon’s booking over Triple H .. hopefully he is back on TV somewhere, anywhere soon pic.twitter.com/6XTDnauw1A
Some fans took Lashley’s comments as a swipe at the Game, as he hadn’t appeared on WWE programming for months before this interview. Speaking more recently to The Bo and Them Show, Lashley made clear that he is not someone who speaks ill of others.
“I never bad mouth anyone, I never bad mouth the business. I left WWE in 2008. You can’t see any article where I said anything bad about the people there.”
Lashley added that “everyone was going after” him for speaking highly of his relationship with McMahon. The former WWE Champion simply stated the facts that he had more conversations with McMahon when he was in charge compared to Triple H.
“I had a different relationship with Vince. When Triple H came on, we never really had a chance to sit down. He didn’t get a chance to get to know me.”
Lashley’s profile was recently moved to the Alumni section of WWE.com following reports that his time with the promotion has come to an end. It has been stated that Lashley has attracted interest from AEW and that a Hurt Business (now dubbed the Hurt Syndicate) reunion with MVP and Shelton Benjamin remains possible.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Bobby Lashley and where his wrestling career takes the former WWE and TNA World Champion next.
TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace is ready and willing to put her gold on the line in any promotion, amid TNA’s ongoing partnership with NXT. At ViolenceXSuffering’s Arrival 2 event this week, Grace defended her gold in an open challenge that was answered by Megan Bayne. Speaking after her match to SE Scoops correspondent Muscle Man Malcolm, Grace made clear her title is open to all challengers.
“I’ve said this before and I’ll say it a million times over. I’ll defend the TNA Knockouts World Championship anywhere, at any company, against anyone.”
Grace’s comments will have fans speculating on where she could appear next, and whether a return to WWE NXT could happen for the Knockouts Champion. While Grace appeared for WWE’s gold brand earlier this year, she did not put her title on the line, and instead challenged for the WWE NXT Women’s Championship. Grace has defended her own gold against NXT’s Izzi Dame and Tatum Paxley, though those matches happened at TNA events.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Jordynne Grace and her title reign that will see her compete against anyone brave enough to face the Juggernaut.
On August 23, 2023, the wrestling world was rocked by the passing of one of the industry’s most notable legends: Terry Funk. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion passed away at the age of 79 after years of several health issues, including being diagnosed with dementia in 2021.
The Legacy of Terry Funk
Born on June 30, 1944, in Hammond, Indiana, Terry Funk was destined for the wrestling world. The son of Dory Funk Sr., a revered wrestler and promoter, Terry and his brother, Dory Funk Jr. were quite literally raised in the sport.
Terry debuted in 1965, quickly making a name for himself in his father’s promotion, Western States Sports, based in Amarillo, Texas. His early style was a reflection of his father’s influence—technical and hard-hitting. It would be a decade later that Funk’s crowning achievement came as on December 10, 1975, he won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating the legendary Jack Brisco. Funk held the gold for 14 months and his technically sound bouts proved why he was the right man to hold the 10 pounds of gold.
The Reinvention
In the 1980, Funk did what few wrestlers can, or rather, want, to do; he reinvented himself. Moving away from the pure technical style of his early career, Funk embraced a more violent, unhinged persona. His work in promotions including All Japan and later ECW showcased a different, more violent side, complimented nicely by his technical savvy in the ring. Funk’s feud with Ric Flair in 1989, particularly their brutal “I Quit” match at WCW Clash of the Champions IX continues to be considered one of the pivotal matches of the career in both men.
As a pivotal figure in hardcore wrestling, it is fitting that Funk became ECW World Heavyweight Champion at the extreme promotion’s first pay-per-view, Barely Legal 1997. Having Funk be a part of the promotion proved to be pivotal for the rag-tag promotion that was looking to make its mark in wrestling, as the legacy and prestige of Funk proved impossible to deny.
An Influencer
Terry Funk’s impact on professional wrestling extends beyond his in-ring accomplishments. He was a mentor to countless wrestlers, including Mick Foley, Steve Austin, and Tommy Dreamer, all of whom credit Funk with helping them shape their careers. In the foreword of Funk’s book More Than Just Hardcore, Foley recalls being under a ring for over an hour as part of a planned spot involving Funk, stating that despite the cramped and uncomfortable area, he’d do anything for his mentor.
Funk’s influence also reached Hollywood, where he appeared in several films, including Road House and Over the Top, often playing the tough guy that mirrored his wrestling persona. This allowed Funk the chance to share the screen with top Hollywood names like Patrick Swayze, further etching his legacy in the media in and out of the ring.
Terry Funk Honored
In 2009, Terry, alongside his brother Dory Jr. was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, a fitting induction given that it took place in the pair’s native Texas. Their induction also came the same night that ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, one of many names inspired by Funk, took his place in the annals of wrestling greats. Following his passing, WWE paid tribute to Funk and Kevin Owens, whose in-ring style bears a striking similarity to the Funker, wore a shirt of the legend for a Payback 2023 Street Fight.
The Funker may be gone, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of wrestling fans forever. The wrestling world will always remember him as a man of many roles: A champion, a pioneer, a symbol, and of course “middle-aged and crazy!”
A trio of WWE Superstars paid tribute to Olympic Champion Simone Biles on the latest edition of WWE SmackDown on FOX. During the show, Jade Cargill, Naomi, and Bianca Belair united to take on WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) and Blair Davenport. The two sides have been at odds for some time and Davenport has helped the champion retain their gold against Cargill and Belair.
Belair, Cargill, and Naomi wore a series of colorful attires for this week’s WWE SmackDown which aired from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Eagle-eyed fans will have noticed that these attires were all inspired by attires Biles has worn in gymnastics.
The Biles-inspired team got the win on SmackDown. The Unholy Union and Davenport isolated Belair until The EST finally made the tag to Cargill, who emerged as a one-woman wrecking crew. Naomi got the win for her team after hitting a split-legged moonsault on Blair Davenport.
What’s To Come?
The Unholy Union will defend their WWE Tag Team Championships at WWE Bash in Berlin against Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair. The challengers have so far had a mixed experience at WWE PLEs in Europe as they won the gold at Backlash: France and lost the titles to the Unholy Union at Clash At The Castle: Scotland.
WWE Bash In Berlin will take place on August 31, and will air from the Uber Arena in the German capital. The show will mark WWE’s first Premium Live Event from Germany and the latest in a string of shows that have seen WWE travel beyond North America. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from WWE Bash in Berlin, including breaking news and live results next weekend.
There may be no more famous ringside fan the notorious Vlad, but another name of notoriety is the intense “Bowl Cut Kid” and he has finally resurfaced.
Online documentarian and lucha libre advocate Roy Lucier was one of the names to attend the 58th Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas. Lucha legend Negro Casas was the recepient of the Lucha Libre Award and Lucier sat at the table with the famed luchador. However, he went around and got plenty of photo opportunities, and that included the ‘Bowl Cut Kid.’
Who else remembers the Bowl Cut Kid, who was front row at all the WWF and WCW PPV’s back in the 90’s? He’s here at @CACReunion right now! pic.twitter.com/PzD3Gq5wIr
Over a decade ago, a thread on Reddit was posted trying to determine the whereabout of the expressive heavyset fan at ringside who would be at several WWE and WCW events during the 1990s wrestling boom period.
“Bowl Cut Kid” was noted to be seen at several major shows including WrestleMania XII, WrestleMania 13, Halloween Havoc 1996 and Survivor Series 1996. He’s also been all over the United States in different cities.
However, the city he was at this past week was Las Vegas. Lucier made sure to get a photo with the fan who sadly no longer sports the bowl cut, but did keep his signature intensity for the picture.
In addition to Casas, the long list of recipients included Kurt Angle, Sting, The Dudley Boyz, Bill Alfonso, Buff Bagwell, Jim Ross and more. The event took place over the course of three days and a lot of other names were in attendance for the ceremonies.
What a great experience at @CACReunion and a huge honor to receive the 2024 Men’s Wrestling Award!@mstacybrown and I have had an awesome time catching up with old and new friends in Las Vegas! @TheRock’s mom Ata even taught Stacy how to hula! pic.twitter.com/xKNEeLcP6H
Tonight’s WWE SmackDown airs live on FOX at 8 PM EST from the Capital One Center in Washington, D.C., on August 23, 2024. The penultimate SmackDown before next weekend’s WWE Bash in Berlin PLE will feature two championship matches.
Confirmed matches and segments for tonight’s WWE SmackDown include:
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Bloodline (c) vs. The Street Profits
United States Championship Match: LA Knight (c) vs. Santos Escobar
Cody Rhodes will be Grayson Waller’s guest on the Waller Effect
6-Woman Tag Team Match: Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi vs. Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn and Blair Davenport
Stay tuned to SEScoops for our coverage of this week’s WWE SmackDown.
What Happened Last Week
WWE SmackDown last week culminated with The Bloodline standing over a brutalized Roman Reigns. With the battle lines drawn, will Reigns recruit help to reclaim his title as the Tribal Chief?
Earlier in the night, The Street Profits became No. 1 Contenders for the WWE Tag Team Titles. Cody Rhodes came to Kevin Owens’ aid, Blair Davenport secured a victory over Naomi, Carmelo Hayes picked up a hard-fought win against Andrade and Michin’s interrupted Nia Jax’s Women’s Championship celebration – with a kendo stick.
Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:
This day is a special one for WWE’s resident CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque, as it was 25 years ago today that he captured his first of 14 WWE World Championships. On the post-SummerSlam 1999 edition of RAW, The Game defeated new champion Mankind to etch his name in the history books.
Lillian Garcia On Her WWE Debut
This week also marks 25 years since the debut of Lilian Garcia in WWE, who served as the promotion’s chief ring announcer for years. Speaking with SE Scoops correspondent Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Lilian recalled her first day with the promotion.
“It was such a blur… 20 minutes before I was live on the air they told me no cue cards. I remember terror if I could put it in one word. To know, that 14 million people were watching around the world and 20,000 in the arena. It was intense.”
Sheamus Pulling Pints
Sheamus will be a special guest picker for Pat McAfee on tomorrow’s episode of Pat’s show that’ll take place in Dublin, Ireland. After landing in the Emerald Isles, Sheamus and McAfee wasted no time in getting a drink at the JR Mahons pub.
The Wyatt Sicks have proven to be must-see since arriving in WWE and have been at odds with Chad Gable and American Made. In the group’s latest cryptic post, the faction makes clear their issues with Gable’s group aren’t over year.
Today, August 23, marks one year since the passing of WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk. The former NWA World Heavyweight Champion passed at the age of 79. His brother Dory Funk has returned to the ring for a match as part of a tribute show to Terry, an act that will make Dory the oldest professional wrestler to compete.
Jade Cargill envisions huge things in her future as a WWE Superstar, with singles championship gold being just one accolade in mind. Speaking to Metro, Cargill gave her lofty prediction for her career trajectory in the promotion.
“I’m going to get the WWE Women’s World Title. That’s going to happen. Being a legend in this industry – that’s going to happen.”
Cargill also intends to be “a staple for the women’s division” in the future and hopes that working with the top women of WWE will allow her to continue to grow. The SmackDown Superstar is willing to let herself be “shaped and molded” as her career continues in WWE.
Jade Cargill In WWE
Cargill signed with WWE in September 2023, mere weeks after her tenure with AEW came to an end. From the very start, she has been presented as a huge draw and made her much-anticipated in-ring debut during the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Cargill made it to the final three before being eliminated by Liv Morgan.
At WWE Backlash: France, Cargill and Bianca Belair captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, marking the Storm’s first taste of gold in WWE. The pair’s return to Europe would not be as successful as they lost the gold to the Unholy Union at WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland. Nevertheless, expectations remain sky-high for Cargill and it may be a matter of time before her predictions of gold and status become a reality.
Wrestling fans are gearing up for another big event next week, TNA Emergence. Following the latest episode of TNA iMPACT, we have several additions to the PPV match lineup. TNA Emergence is scheduled for Friday, August 30 2024. The event will stream live on Triller PPV ($9.99) from Louisville, Kentucky. Here is the updated card:
Iron Man Match: TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth vs. Josh Alexander
Ultimate X Title Match: X Division Champion Mike Bailey vs. Zachary Wentz vs. Riley Osborne vs. Jason Hotch vs. Laredo Kid vs. Hammerstone
The Hardys, Joe Hendry & Mike Santana vs. The System
Steve Maclin vs. Eric Young
Matt Cardona vs. PCO
Jordynne Grace & Spitfire vs. Ash By Elegance, & M-Alisha
Countdown Show: Frankie Kazarian vs. KUSHUIDA
The Road to TNA Emergence
The conclusion of the 8/22 show saw Moose and JDC lose to The Hardys in the tag-team main event. After the loss, Moose and JDC were joined by fellow members of The System, Brian Myers and Eddie Edwards, for an attack of Matt and Jeff Hardy. This continued until Joe Hendry and Mike Santana ran out to make the save, ending the broadcast with a four-on-four stand-off after the post-match brawl.
Late Thursday evening, TNA Wrestling confirmed all four members of The System squaring off against The Hardys, Hendry and Santana in a featured eight-man tag-team match for the PPV card, along with Steve Maclin vs. Eric Young in singles action.
On Friday afternoon, TNA announced via Twitter (X) that KUSHIDA and Frankie Kazarian will meet in one-on-one action in a bout that will take place on the Countdown To TNA Emergence 2024 pre-show.
The match comes after the two were involved in a post-match brawl of their own on the 8/22 TNA iMPACT broadcast. After both came up short to Hammerstone in the Ultimate X Qualifier that opened up the show, Kazarian hit KUSHIDA with his “Face To Black” finisher and posed over his unconscious body in the center of the ring.
