Former WWE star 2 Cold Scorpio (Charles Scaggs) was recently apprehended after he allegedly stabbed a man at a gas station.

TMZ broke the news of his arrest and the incident took place at a Love’s Travel Stop in Kansas City, Missouri. The 58-year-old got involved in a heated argument with a customer at the gas station around 3:40 am.n

The former WWE star stated that he was working as a security guard at the store and he told the man to stop smoking inside. Reports suggest that it didn’t sit well with the customer. They moved outside while arguing and Scaggs pulled out a knife.nThe customer later denied having lit a cigarette inside the store.n

2 Cold Scorpio told the cops that he acted in self-defense and stabbed the man as he allegedly tried to attack Scaggs in the parking lot. Per reports, cops stated that they discovered a man bleeding from his head, chest, legs, stomach, and buttocks when they arrived on the scene. He was then rushed to a hospital due to his injuries. The man was reportedly been going in and out of consciousness when they found him. The victim went on to accuse 2 Cold Scorpio being the aggressor during their scuffle.

2 Cold Scorpio faces multiple charges

TMZ reported that the former 2 Cold Scorpio was arrested on June 15 and slapped with a first-degree assault charge as well as one count of armed criminal action. Scaggs pleaded not guilty to these charges and it has come to light that he is due in court next month.

2 Cold Scorpio entered the pro wrestling world in 1985 and tasted success in the 90s. During his time in WCW, he won the WCW Tag Team Championship. He went on to compete in WWE as well. He has captured major championships such as the ECW World Tag Team Championship and he is a 4-time ECW World Television Champion.

Related: 2 Cold Scorpio Shoots On Working For Paul Heyman & ECW

WWE NXT’s Shawn Spears and his wife Cassie Lee are once again new parents following the birth of the couple’s second child. 

On Instagram, Lee shared the birth of their child Harley Dean who arrived into the world on June 21, 2024 and shared the message “you complete us.” Within hours of the news being shared, the post had gathered tens of thousands of likes as fans and those in the industry relished in the news. Natalya, Kelani Jordan, Matt Cardona, Carmella, and Renee Paquette all shared their congratulations. Lee’s long-time tag-team partner in WWE & TNA Jessica McKay said that Harley is a “sweet boy.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Cassie Lee (@cassielee)

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Lee and Spears shared on December 24, 2023, that they were expecting Harley. This is the couple’s second child as they previously shared in August 2022 that they were expecting. Their first child, another boy named Austin Jay, was born on January 17, 2023. 

Baby Fever

Lee is one of several wrestling names to have babies on the brain. WWE United States Champion Logan Paul and his fiancee are currently expecting their first child and fittingly revealed the sex of the child with a wrestling match. 

Related: Watch: Logan Paul & Nina Agdal Host Wrestling Match Gender Reveal Party

Earlier this year, Valhalla, aka Sarah Logan, shared that she and her husband Erik are expecting another child. In February 2021, the pair welcomed their first child, Raymond Cash Rowe into the world. 

We here at SE Scoops would like to congratulate Cassie Lee and Shawn Spears on the wonderful addition to their family. 

It’s been five years since WWE’s worst-attended Premium Live Event, and in that time, the promotion has done incredibly well. 

June 2019 saw WWE host its first (and to date, only) Stomping Grounds PLE which took place from the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. Including the pre-show, the event saw two title changes as the Cruiserweight and United States Championships were won by Drew Gulak and Ricochet respectively. 

Stomping Grounds’ Record

WWE Stomping Grounds has gone down in history for having the lowest attendance of a WWE Premium Live Event. The show saw just 3,500 fans pay to watch the show. WWE did what it could to hide this embarrassing fact, including putting large black clothes over thousands of empty seats. 

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For context, the Tacoma Dome can seat 21,000 people at max capacity, making this 3,500 figure all the more unfortunate. The venue has hosted WWE TV tapings in the past, with many of them outperforming this PLE. 

Five Years Later

Plenty has changed since Stomping Ground 2019 and WWE’s business has arguably never been better. With PLEs today, WWE can issue a report about the record-breaking success of the show, a testament to the company’s good business. WWE attendances have improved with this year seeing a run of sold-out TV tapings, in addition to well-attended PLEs. 

Changes backstage can also be credited for an improved product that naturally has led to high-attendance figures. The exile of Vince McMahon in January 2024 paved the way for Triple H to be unquestionably in charge of WWE’s creative team, which fans on the whole believe is for the best. Storylines are now tighter and feel more sensible than before, instead of the past which saw unnecessary twists and ideas being dropped out of nowhere. 

The irony of this is that this success has come while WWE’s main rival, AEW has continued to get bigger. In 2019, AEW was still an upstart company that by the time of Stomping Grounds, had hosted just one PPV. In spite of AEW now being a bigger company since then, support for WWE and its product has only strengthened in recent years. 

What’s Next? 

WWE’s next PLE will be the Money in the Bank show next month, which is expected to perform very well. Between this show, SummerSlam, and the upcoming Bash In Berlin marking WWE’s first PLE in Germany, expect the company to continue to thrive and for WWE Stomping Grounds to be resigned to the annals of history. 

Related: Fanatics CEO Surprised By ‘Absolutely Insane’ WWE Merchandise Sales

Cheslea Green has found herself as one of the competitor’s in the women’s Money In The Bank Ladder match and she has long-term goals for the WWE Women’s Championship.

Green defeated Bianca Belair and Michin to punch her ticket to Money In The Bank on the 6/21 SmackDown, but it was an opportunistic victory. Belair happened to hit her KOD finisher on Michin, but it was Green who shoved Belair out of the way to get the 1-2-3.

Bayley saw how Green got that victory and took to social media to patronize her method of swooping in. She said she’s had her eyes on Green for months as Bayley got a little confrontational with Green during her match against Piper Niven. Green tried to interfere in the bout, but she was banned from ringside. She tried to return under a luchadora mask and Bayley threw her into the barricade before defeating Niven, which Bayley makes mention of after wishing her luck in Toronto.

• Madusa Considers Bayley ‘The Best Wrestler’ Of The Four Horsewomen

“If you didn’t get a glimpse of what I’m capable of when I beat your friend Piper Niven last weekend, well, you’re really going to see a different side of me, sister. So enjoy your night for now.”

.@itsBayleyWWE's got her eye on you, @ImChelseaGreen… ? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/wcdFC4X6wC

— WWE (@WWE) June 23, 2024

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If Green does grab the briefcase and becomes the Money In The Bank winner, she does have plans for Bayley’s WWE Women’s Championship if she cashes in on the former hugger.

“When I win I’m starting a petition to change the WWE Women’s Championship back to the Divas Championship.”

When I win I’m starting a petition to change the @WWE Womens Championship back to the Divas Championship. pic.twitter.com/aOCSyTcFPG

— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) June 23, 2024

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Related: Piper Niven: ‘Bayley Is Like Shawn Michaels, She Brings The Best Out of Everyone’

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

Cheslea Green has found herself as one of the competitor’s in the women’s Money In The Bank Ladder match and she has long-term goals for the WWE Women’s Championship.

Green defeated Bianca Belair and Michin to punch her ticket to Money In The Bank on the 6/21 SmackDown, but it was an opportunistic victory. Belair happened to hit her KOD finisher on Michin, but it was Green who shoved Belair out of the way to get the 1-2-3.

Bayley saw how Green got that victory and took to social media to patronize her method of swooping in. She said she’s had her eyes on Green for months as Bayley got a little confrontational with Green during her match against Piper Niven. Green tried to interfere in the bout, but she was banned from ringside. She tried to return under a luchadora mask and Bayley threw her into the barricade before defeating Niven, which Bayley makes mention of after wishing her luck in Toronto.

• Madusa Considers Bayley ‘The Best Wrestler’ Of The Four Horsewomen

“If you didn’t get a glimpse of what I’m capable of when I beat your friend Piper Niven last weekend, well, you’re really going to see a different side of me, sister. So enjoy your night for now.”

.@itsBayleyWWE's got her eye on you, @ImChelseaGreen… ? #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/wcdFC4X6wC

— WWE (@WWE) June 23, 2024

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If Green does grab the briefcase and becomes the Money In The Bank winner, she does have plans for Bayley’s WWE Women’s Championship if she cashes in on the former hugger.

“When I win I’m starting a petition to change the WWE Women’s Championship back to the Divas Championship.”

When I win I’m starting a petition to change the @WWE Womens Championship back to the Divas Championship. pic.twitter.com/aOCSyTcFPG

— CHELSEA GREEN (@ImChelseaGreen) June 23, 2024

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Related: Piper Niven: ‘Bayley Is Like Shawn Michaels, She Brings The Best Out of Everyone’

H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

This recap was originally written by SEScoops’ Dominic DeAngelo on MLW.com.

It’s a 22 year celebration of Major League Wrestling and the league is partying in a big way at Atlanta with a stacked lineup!

But before all that, Atlanta has to endure Sessions With Mister Saint Laurent, but thankfully his guest was Paul Walter Hauser. Hauser noted of the wrestling history Atlanta is steeped in before matters got tense between the interviewer and interviewee. However, the moment got stopped with a chairshot from Filthy Tom Lawlor!

MATCH 1
Adam Priest vs. Bobby Fish

The upstart Adam Priest was making his singles debut and was more than game for this match. He clearly did his homework on the veteran Bobby Fish. Fish was ready for strikes, but Priest evaded a lot of his moves and got his share of offense in. However a corner exploder suplex was enough to keep him down for the 1-2-3.

WINNER: Bobby Fish

A solid victory under his belt, Bobby Fish will be in the 2024 Opera Cup as he and 15 other men will compete to earn the right to hoist the cherished trophy! One of those names is a two-time winner Davey Boy Smith Jr.

DBS walks out with MSL who hypes up his client, runs down Atlanta and makes the claim that Smith will be an unparalleled three-time Opera Cup Champion. However, he must be ready for ‘The Sweet Scientist’, Timothy Thatcher.

• MLW Returning To Atlanta With Fightland After Selling Out Center Stage With Battle Riot VI

MATCH 2
Round 1: Opera Cup
Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Timothy Thatcher

The styles between Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Thatcher go together like PB&J and this opening round match is no different. Thatcher is tough as nails and ruthless in his offense as he focuses on breaking down DBS by targeting his arm. It has inhibited the third generation star from using the powerslam, but just like Thatcher, DBS is very durable. He happens to put Thatcher down with a massive sit-out powerbomb for the pinfall victory.

WINNER and ADVANCING: Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Post-match, Davey Boy Smith tried to sing the Canadian National Anthem before telling Atlanta they didn’t deserve it. However, third time’s a charm for his Opera Cup run.

However, the league has a big announcement as KENTA will be entering the Opera Cup! And his first round opponent? Bobby Fish!

Backstage we see AKIRA with Okomura and the MLW World Champion Satoshi Kojima. AKIRA has his pup Kota with him and promises that he’s going to take out the CONTRA Unit member Ikuro Kwon in the Opera Cup.

MATCH 3
MLW National Openweight Championship
Jake Crist vs. Bad Dude Tito

This is a David vs. Goliath match and Crist’s slingshot is his speed and athleticism. Tito, however, is pretty dominant in this bout based on his strength and the numbers game. Salina de la Renta and Jesus Rodriguez are at ringside as the “ring announcer” gets a shot in on Jake. That all ultimately comes into play at the end of the match when Crist hits a swift spinning back kick to Tito’s ear. Rodriguez hops on the apron and out runs Brett Ryan Gosselin, he grabs Crist by the neck and drops him over the top rope. Tito then hits his Steiner Screwdriver finisher for the 1-2-3!

WINNER and STILL MLW National Openweight Champion: Bad Dude Tito

Backstage, David Marquez catches up with Cesar Duran who says he’s not been a part of Salina’s life as a father to make her stronger. That makes him a good father who cares. Marquez questions that tactic and Duran gets confrontational.

MLW Original CW Anderson is in the crowd for all the anniversary action as the crowd salutes one of the Extreme Four Horsemen.

We cut to Marquez once again who catches up with Matt Riddle. The Battle Riot winner isn’t sure when he’s going to cash in his golden ticket but all is stopped when Sami Callihan comes in to ambush him. The two rivals begin brawling and the feed gets cut!

Bobby Fish is on commentary for the next fight as he looks to scout the Opera Cup bracket.

MATCH 4
Round 1: Opera Cup
Ikuro Kwon vs. AKIRA

Styles indeed make fights and the two styles of Kwon and AKIRA mirror one another. This battle is very hard-hitting as Kwon has AKIRA’s number in a lot of the exchanges. The Death Fighter gets rocked by a monkey flip in the corner that sends AKIRA into the ring post! Kicks, suplexes and submissions are in full-force as AKIRA looks to keep Kwon grounded. He manages to do that with an impressive kicking and striking sequence before cinching in an ankle lock. The resiliency of Kwon is on display but an eventual Death Penalty is good enough to get the pinfall win!

WINNER and ADVANCING: AKIRA

We cut to Filthy Tom Lawlor who was asked about his actions against Hauser. Lawlor said Hauser did this to himself because he poses as a pro wrestler and calls the credited actor a “fat pud!” We find out later on that Hauser was taken to a local Atlanta hospital.

We catch more footage of Riddle and Sami continuing to fight backstage as order is aiming to get restored!

MATCH 5
MLW World Middleweight Championship
Star Jr. vs. Mistico (c)

Before the bout starts, Mistico offers a handshake in a matter of respect and Star. Jr obliges. This battle is a symphony of athleticism as both luchadors have one another well scouted. Mistico hits a beautiful arm drag and a head scissors to show Star Jr. why he’s indeed champ. Atlanta chants for Mistico as he executes a beautiful headscissors.

Star Jr. finally turns the tide towards him with a big boot in the ring and hits a hard strike to down Mistico. Mistico though, ultimately puts Star down with his spinning Fujiwa armbar.

WINNER and STILL MLW World Middleweight Champion: Mistico

Post-fight, Star Jr and Mistico shake hands once again before Mistico is interviewed at the top of the ramp. He expresses his love for the Middleweight gold and the love for MLW fans!

• Jazzy Yang, Daughter of Jimmy, Makes MLW Debut at Anniversary 2024 Event

MATCH 6

Miyu Yamashita vs. Jazzy Yang vs. Dani Jordyn

It’s a full circle moment for this match as Jazzy Yang, is Jimmy Yang’s daughter. At 21 years of age, she’s making her Major League debut, just like Yang did 22 years ago! Yang is in the crowd to watch his daughter compete and she’s got some tough competition in Yamashita and Dani Jordyn.

Jazzy shows her spunk as she gets some offense in against Yamashita, hitting a beautiful spinning leg kick. Jordyn gets a near win before Yamashita strikes Jordyn. She tosses Yang out and focuses on Dani. However, Yang gets more involved when she catches both women on the outside with a top rope dive!

Miyu manages to isolate Jordyn once more as she nails her with a powerful modified Attitude Adjustment and it keeps Dani down for the 1-2-3!

WINNER: Miya Yamashita

Cameras catch up with Sami Callihan as he’s finally been separated from Riddle and issues one more final challenge to The Super King of Bros: he wants any type of match at Blood & Thunder! Will Riddle accept?

MLW takes time to honor the legendary Gary Juster who has promoted fights and helped produce many wrestling shows over the years. Juster is humbled and grateful for the honor! #ThankYouGary!

MAIN EVENT
Bull Rope Match
1 Called Manders vs. Mads Krule Krugger

Manders wastes no time in this fight as he takes it to Krugger and introduces the bull rope violence quite quickly. Krugger’s bloodlust may be unparalleled as he happens to hang Manders over the ropes with the Bullrope!

The violence gets amped up when a table is set up in the middle of the ring and Krugger possibly plans to chokeslam Manders through it while up top. Manders bites the forehead of Krugger and superplexes the monster through the table! Manders musters up enough strength to charge at Krugger and nails him with a big-time lariat! Kruger is OUT and Manders goes to cover him, but Krugger grabs him by the throat. Manders amps up the adrenaline and begins HAMMERING Krugger with the cowbell. Manders tangles Krugger in the rope and pulls down his arm pad, ready for another lariat, but in comes Janai Kai with a harsh roundhouse kick! Kruger hits a inverted full nelson and nails Manders for the 1-2-3!

WINNER: Mads Krule Krugger

Post-fight, Kruger has some ritualistic violence in store for Manders as he buries his head in a bucket in front of the CONTRA insurgents and even nails him with the bully club!

CONTRA begins to drag Manders backstage as Matthew Justice runs in to save his Second Gear Crew companion but is cut off at the pass by Ikuro Kwon and Minoru Suzuki! Manders is dragged off by Krugger!

We finally get to see Salina meet up with Duran and although she’s late on a Father’s Day gift, it is quite the gift: Salina is PREGNANT! Duran looks pleased at being a grandfather as the Anniversary show ends!

Related: WWE & MLW At Legal Odds Again Over ‘Hart Foundation’ Trademark

The fiancé of Brooks Jensen has turned to the fans for help after the ‘former’ WWE NXT star did not make a recent independent event. 

Taking to Twitter/X, Chloe fought back tears as she spoke about Jensen, using his real name Ben Buchanan. She explained that Jensen was supposed to appear at an independent wrestling event after allegedly parting ways with WWE this week. 

• Brooks Jensen Says He Became A Free Agent On 6/21

Unfortunately, Jensen did not appear at the event and nobody is aware of his location. Chloe shared her concern that her fiancé is drinking alone at some bar and made a passionate plea to the man she loves. 

“Ben, if you’re out there and you’re listening, I just want you to come home. You don’t have to be ashamed. You’re not who employs you.”

What Is Going On? 

Jensen’s alleged disappearance is the latest in a string of concerning actions by the second-generation wrestler. Jensen first began making headlines after he shared his independent booking information on social media, suggesting that he has been let go by WWE. Even some people in WWE were confused by the move as there had not been talks within NXT regarding Brooks being released.

• Brooks Jensen Invades WWE NXT During Ad-Break

More recently, Jensen appeared at an independent event in another tease that he was leaving WWE. On Twitter, one fan shared their surprise that the NXT Superstar was at the show, prompting Jensen to ask if he was ‘working’ people now.

What’s Really Going On?

For all his teasing of leaving WWE and ‘issues’ with NXT management, fans shouldn’t expect to see Jensen part ways with the company anytime soon. Instead, Jensen remains under contract, and these matters are all part of a storyline to help elevate his character. Despite stating that he is a free agent, it is believed that Jensen remains firmly under contract.

Within NXT, the angle has been compared to Grayson Waller’s feud with Shawn Michaels that helped elevate the current-day WWE Tag Team Champion. As for when Jensen will wrestle next, that remains to be seen, but the second-generation Superstar has certainly caught the attention of fans.

Related: Brooks Jensen Teases A Jump To TNA After Security Escorts Him Out Of NXT

Jazzy Yang, the daughter of Jimmy Yang, has followed in her father’s footsteps after making her in-ring debut for Major League Wrestling. 

The younger Yang competed at MLW Anniversary 2024 in a triple-threat match against Miyu Yamashita and Dani Jordan. Jazzy’s father was in attendance for the show and was highlighted during the broadcast.

Full circle: Jimmy Yang is in the house to see his daughter Jazzy Yang make her league debut! #MLW @betonline_ag

?: https://t.co/EKVrhlUh3g pic.twitter.com/WBG4fupQL8

— MLW (@MLW) June 23, 2024

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Unfortunately for Jazzy, her Major League Wrestling debut was not a successful one. The multi-generational wrestler would lose to Yamashita in the penultimate match of the evening. 

It’s fitting that her father was present for Jazzy’s MLW debut as Jimmy Yang has a history of his own with MLW. The former WWE Superstar debuted at MLW’s King of Kings event in December 2002 and competed throughout 2003 for the promotion. He would also compete in the company’s Super J Cup USA but was defeated by Christopher Daniels in the second round. 

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Jazzy Yang

Yang made her professional in-ring debut in July 2021 and teamed with her father to defeat The Revolt (Caleb Konley & Zane Riley.) In addition to Major League Wrestling, Jazzy has also wrestled for the NWA, Game Changer Wrestling, WOW – Women Of Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Noah. In May of last year, Yang won the Lariato Pro Wrestling Guild’s Women’s Championship at the company’s Slamageddon event. 

Yang regularly details her journey in wrestling and her personal life on social media. In April 2023, she produced a popular series on her account, documenting the life of a wrestler on the day of a show. She currently has over 5,600 followers on the platform

Related: New MLW World Heavyweight Championship Revealed At Battle Riot VI

Jazzy Yang, the daughter of Jimmy Yang, has followed in her father’s footsteps after making her in-ring debut for Major League Wrestling. 

The younger Yang competed at MLW Anniversary 2024 in a triple-threat match against Miyu Yamashita and Dani Jordan. Jazzy’s father was in attendance for the show and was highlighted during the broadcast.

Full circle: Jimmy Yang is in the house to see his daughter Jazzy Yang make her league debut! #MLW @betonline_ag

?: https://t.co/EKVrhlUh3g pic.twitter.com/WBG4fupQL8

— MLW (@MLW) June 23, 2024

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Unfortunately for Jazzy, her Major League Wrestling debut was not a successful one. The multi-generational wrestler would lose to Yamashita in the penultimate match of the evening. 

It’s fitting that her father was present for Jazzy’s MLW debut as Jimmy Yang has a history of his own with MLW. The former WWE Superstar debuted at MLW’s King of Kings event in December 2002 and competed throughout 2003 for the promotion. He would also compete in the company’s Super J Cup USA but was defeated by Christopher Daniels in the second round. 

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Jazzy Yang

Yang made her professional in-ring debut in July 2021 and teamed with her father to defeat The Revolt (Caleb Konley & Zane Riley.) In addition to Major League Wrestling, Jazzy has also wrestled for the NWA, Game Changer Wrestling, WOW – Women Of Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Noah. In May of last year, Yang won the Lariato Pro Wrestling Guild’s Women’s Championship at the company’s Slamageddon event. 

Yang regularly details her journey in wrestling and her personal life on social media. In April 2023, she produced a popular series on her account, documenting the life of a wrestler on the day of a show. She currently has over 5,600 followers on the platform

Related: New MLW World Heavyweight Championship Revealed At Battle Riot VI

Injuries are part of wrestling and one can never predict how or when a superstar may be taken off road. It also creates challenges for bookers who sometimes have to adjust plans made months in advance at the last minute. Tony Khan’s AEW has experienced this firsthand recently as several of the company’s biggest stars have been taken out due to injuries.

The latest talent to suffer a setback is Dax Harwood, who revealed that he’ll be out of action because of a lower back issue. The injury woes in AEW have resulted in either planned storylines getting dropped or delayed until a talent returns. 

AEW President Tony Khan recently spoke with Bleachers Report’s Doc-Chris Mueller ahead of AEW x New Japan Pro Wrestling Forbidden Door on June 30. When asked how talent injuries affect his booking, Khan shared that it forces him to make adjustments he may not have planned to make.

Answering in character, the AEW President mentioned how his EVPs The Young Bucks are responsible for putting some of his top talents on the shelf:

“It’s happened so much(talent injuries), and we’ve had to change so many things. You know, The Young Bucks reference this body count, and they’re not altogether wrong. I mean, it’s true. Since they started this reign of terror, I’m not the only person they put out and injured. FTR has injuries going back to their Anarchy In The Arena and their Ladder Match with The Young Bucks, so we have FTR out,” said Khan. 

The AEW official also named Eddie Kingston and Darby Allin who are out due to injury after their run-in with The Young Bucks. He then talked about other superstars like Adam Copeland, who suffered a fractured tibia at Double or Nothing on May 26.

Related: Tony Khan Accused Of Booking AEW Television On The Fly

Tony Khan On Being Grateful Of AEW Roster

Although AEW is missing some of their fan favorites due to injuries, Khan has the luxury of having a deep roster. The talent pool in the company helps give the AEW President options to make adjustments when needed in his booking. 

In the interview, he expressed gratitude for the superstars competing in AEW. 

“…It’s been great having such a deep roster and so many awesome stars because, you know, we’ve had some fan favorites hurt, but still, we have so many popular stars on this roster who stepped up, and I think that’s why I’m so proud of the wrestlers in AEW,” said Khan. 

He also added that he believes AEW is where the best talents wrestle and is looking forward to having his entire roster in full health. For now, Khan looks forward to having the best in AEW taking on talent from NJPW and CMLL at the upcoming PPV event. 

Related: MJF: ‘Re-Signing Was An Easy Decision, I Believe in AEW & Tony Khan Pays A Lot’

Josh Barnett would love to have WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg compete at a Bloodsport event, as well as some notable names from current wrestling. 

Barnett and Game Changer Wrestling host Bloodsport events, which feature worked-shoot matches in which winners are determined by submission, knockout or referee stoppage. The ring has no ropes or turnbuckles and events have been taking place since April 2018.

Names for Bloodsport

Sitting down with Tokyo Sports, Barnett was asked who he’d like to feature at upcoming Bloodsport events. Barnett, who also competes at Bloodsport events, made clear that he has his sights set pretty high. 

“First of all, Katsuyori Shibata. Then Bill Goldberg. I would also like to see Shayna Baszler in the Japanese tournament, and I would also like to see New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Voltin Oleg.”

Shayna Baszler was part of Bloodsport X this past April thanks to a deal that allowed WWE talent to compete at the event. The two-time former NXT Women’s Champion bested TNA’s Masha Slamovich with the match ending via referee stoppage.  

Neither Shibata nor Oleg have competed for Bloodsport yet. While Barnett has said he plans to hold regular Bloodsport tournaments in Japan, there is no word on whether this will happen. Bloodsport hosted its first event in Japan on June 22, 2024, from the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

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The biggest outlier on Barnett’s wishlist is Bill Goldberg. The former WWE Universal Champion hasn’t competed since 2022 and his contract with the promotion expired that same year. Despite efforts for one final match, Goldberg has yet to have said send-off and is currently not pursuing one last in-ring battle. 

Related: Josh Barnett Has Spoken To CM Punk & Other WWE & AEW Talent About Wrestling For Bloodsport

Jamie Kellner, who served for years as the Head of Turner Broadcasting and played a key role in the end of WCW, has passed away at the age of 77. 

Kellner passed away on June 21 with news of his death first being shared by Variety. In a statement, producer Greg Berlanti spoke about what Kellner meant to him and countless others who worked with him throughout his career. 

“Kellner was a titan and a visionary in our industry and yet he will be remembered by anyone lucky enough to work for him as an executive or as a showrunner as a warm, funny, charismatic, creative and kind mentor, friend, husband and Dad.”

To wrestling fans, Kellner is known as the man who ultimately decided to cancel WCW when he took over the Head of Turner Broadcast, succeeding Ted Turner in 2000. It was Kellner’s decision to cancel the TV contracts of WCW programming as the promotion was losing a fortune in its final years. 

The final episode of WCW Monday Nitro came on March 26, 2001 and saw the reveal that Shane McMahon had purchased the company. This would be a lead-in to that year’s Invasion angle which saw WCW and ECW attempt to ‘destroy’ the WWF. 

Jamie Kellner Outside Wrestling

Away from WCW, Kellner is credited for launching projects for FOX and The WB. Kellner was in charge when hit shows premiered on The WB including Married… With Children, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Simpsons. Kellner also launched FOX Kids during his time at the network. 

We at SE Scoops would like to share our sincere condolences to those who knew Kellner at this sad time. 

Related: Brian Gewirtz On Why ‘Who Killed WCW’ Will Tell The Real Story, Talks The Rock’s Involvement

More has come to light about the situation regarding Kayla Braxton as the WWE broadcaster’s tenure with the company prepares to come to an end. 

Earlier this month, Braxton removed references to WWE from her social media usernames, leading to speculation that her time with the company was ending. This week, Braxton confirmed as much by revealing that an upcoming event in Madison Square Garden will be her last show for WWE. 

• Kayla Braxton Leaving WWE: Thanks Triple H, Nick Khan, Michael Cole

Latest On Kayla Braxton

Braxton is still with WWE, Fightful Select reports, and she is working under a verbal agreement with the company. That is because her official deal with the promotion has already expired but the two sides didn’t want to end things just yet. 

Braxton, real name Kayla Becker, and WWE have been in discussions, but it is unclear what came of them. Given that Braxton has publicly confirmed her impending exit, it is apparent that these talks have not resulted in a new deal. 

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What’s to Come? 

Braxton has not disclosed any specifics about what’s next, instead stating that she is ready to pursue her next “chapter.” Given her success in WWE, many assume that AEW will be making a play for her but if so, that’ll only be when the time is right. AEW was made aware of her contract situation weeks ago, it’s unclear if that was due to direct communication between Braxton/ an agent, or AEW.  Tony Khan has made clear several times in the past that he aims to avoid negotiating with under-contract talent. 

Braxton signed with WWE in 2016 and honed her skills in various roles across Raw, SmackDown, and WWE NXT. While her time with the company is ending, fans can expect to see the talented broadcaster resurface in entertainment down the line. 

Related: Kayla Braxton Blasts Gay Ex-WWE Employee who Mocked her Coming Out

All Elite Wrestling superstar Darby Allin is taking some time off after a rough few months. His last match was teaming in a loss with FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) and Bryan Danielson against The Elite (Jack Perry, Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) at AEW Double Or Nothing on May 26. Since the brutal Anarchy In the Arena Match, Allin has not been on TV. A new report has shared an update on his absence. 

Fightful Select has reported that AEW has given Allin time off to heal from his injuries, including a broken nose. It’s unclear when he may return, but the company is ensuring the AEW superstar has enough time to recover. 

Just unbelievable behavior from the EVPs.

Order #AEWDoN on PPV right now!
?: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
?: https://t.co/GTkwK7GBIn@youngbucks | @darbyallin pic.twitter.com/DDR0Q7eysY

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 27, 2024

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Darby Allin’s Eventful Year

The first half of 2024 has been a very eventful time for the former TNT Champion. He started the year off strong alongside Sting, as they quickly became title contenders in the tag team division. The fan-favorite duo eventually became champions and successfully defended themselves against The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas) at AEW Revolution on March 3. Although he found success early in the year, injuries took a toll on Allin’s body. 

In the brutal tag team match against The Young Bucks, Allin had a spot where he launched himself off a ladder from inside the ring to the ringside on a pane of glass. The dangerous move resulted in Allin’s back being cut up and needing stitches. After relinquishing the titles due to Sting’s retirement, Allin would then take some time off with hopes of climbing Mount Everest. 

Related: Darby Allin Is Training Sting’s Son To Wrestle

Darby Allin’s Injuries Continue To Take Its Toll

AEW put him against Jay White for a loss on the March 13 episode of AEW Dynamite to take him off TV. Unfortunately, Allin suffered a broken foot in the matchup that caused the daredevil performer to be inactive and ruined his hopes of traveling up Mount Everest. Allin’s injuries woes continued the following month when he was hit by a bus, resulting in a broken nose. 

Allin returned to action earlier than expected to compete at AEW Double Or Nothing, as a replacement for the injured Eddie Kingston. In the match, fans noticed he was wearing a face mask and had not recovered fully from his injuries. That said, it didn’t prevent him from dangerous moments, including being Superkicked in the face while suspended above the ring by The Young Bucks.  

The proper time away from wrestling is necessary for Allin to recover from his issues. Hopefully, he can be at full strength soon and plot revenge on The Elite for his last defeat at AEW Double or Nothing. 

Related: Darby Allin Won’t Hold Back With “Crazy Violent” Film Directorial Debut

Jeff Jarrett’s career may be laden with wrestling world championships, but none of those victories can compare to competing in the Owen Cup. 

This year’s Owen Hart Foundation Men’s tournament and the winner will advance to a World Championship match at AEW All In: London 2024. Of the eight participants, none of them had a more personal connection to Owen than Jarrett. The pair teamed together in the WWF and had held tag gold mere months before Hart’s passing. 

• Brackets For Owen Hart Foundation Cup Men’s & Women’s Tournaments

Jeff Jarrett on the Owen Hart Cup

On this week’s AEW Collision, an emotional Jarrett spoke candidly about being in the Owen Hart Cup. Fighting back tears, Jarrett recalled being asked to participate and what Owen means to him a quarter-century later. 

“When I was asked initially about being in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament, all the emotion came back. It’s hard for me to imagine, it’s been 25 years, but there’s so many things about Owen that I remember like it was yesterday. In the late 90s we would become tag team champions and I look back on those days as the favorite days of my career.”

Jarrett also spoke about making a promise to himself during the Raw is Owen tribute show to make sure Owen’s kids know their father was a great man. Double-J concluded by making clear just how much being in the tournament means to him.

“I’m a 12-time former World Heavyweight Champion. I’m a two-time Hall of Famer. The Owen means more to me than anything I’ve ever done. Earlier this year, Toby Keith passed away, another good buddy of mine. And he had that song ‘Ain’t as good as I once was but I’m good once as I ever was.’ To get the opportunity to win three matches and stand in the middle ring in Owen’s hometown of Calgary, I’m absolutely going to do it.”

“The Last Outlaw” Jeff Jarrett shares how important entering the Owen Hart Foundation Cup means to him.

Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!@RealJeffJarrett | @Owen_Foundation pic.twitter.com/BlwekHOA1h

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 23, 2024

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What’s Next? 

Jarrett’s opening match in the tournament will see him face a wild-card entrant who will not be revealed until match time. If successful, Jarrett’s second match will be against the winner of the Rey Fenix Vs. Jay White opening match. 

The finals of both the Men’s and Women’s tournament matches will take place on the July 10, edition of Dynamite. So far, Pac has advanced in the Men’s brackets while Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale have advanced in the Women’s tournament. 

Related: Jeff Jarrett Discusses How He Dealt With Owen Hart’s Passing, WWE Continuing PPV

WWE broadcaster Kayla Braxton has announced she’s leaving the company soon. to pursue the next chapter of her career. In a message she released on Saturday, Braxton  revealed her final date for the company will take place at posted a message on social media on Saturday addressing her future, telling her fans she’ll be officially ending her career next week. 

Braxton joined WWE in 2016 and has been involved in various roles, including backstage interviewer and kickoff show panelist. Her final date will be Friday, June 28 when SmackDown returns to Madison Square Garden.

She credited several influential figures for guiding her career, including the one and only, Paul Heyman. “During my years with WWE, I was able to master the art of the back-stage interview. I hope I was able to turn minutes into moments for you who watched week to week and maybe even ushered in a new fan base,” she wrote. “My banter with Paul Heyman became the stuff of legend, and I am so thankful for all he has done to elevate my career. I gained a wealth of knowledge from the Wise man and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kayla Becker (@kaylabraxtonwwe)

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Braxton says Michael Cole brought her in to be a ring announcer in NXT, but she was quickly traveling round the world and taking on bigger roles with greater responsibilities. Now living in Los Angeles, she’s been offered new opportunities and is excited to reveal her future plans soon. She thanked Triple H, Nick Khan and WWE for allowing her to be a trusted voice on television for all of these years. She also thanked the WWE Universe for welcoming her into their lives.

SEScoops wishes Kayla Braxton (Kayla Becker) a big congratulations on an incredible run with WWE. We can’t wait to see what she does next.

Jacob Fatu shocked the fans with his debut on last night’s SmackDown as he was revealed as the latest addition to The Bloodline. Now, reports suggest that there was a delay in his debut. 

The 6-feet plus powerhouse who is the son of Sam Fatu (The Tonga Kid) made an impactful debut last night and has created a buzz among the fans. Fightful Select has reported that Fatu has been signed to WWE for months. It has also come to light that he was around WrestleMania weekend and backstage at WrestleMania 40. The outlet has reported the potential reason behind his delay in debut. 

‘The Samoan Werewolf’ never competed outside of the United States. The MLW sources implied that it was due to Fatu’s past criminal record. At 18, Fatu was apprehended for robbery and eventually, he drew inspiration from The Usos to become a wrestler by witnessing them on TV in jail. His past seemingly affected his career and prevented him from accepting bookings outside the United States. 

WWE has been hosting several international PLEs and television tapings in the Spring and summer which could have posed a challenge for the former MLW World Champion. This might have caused the delay in his debut. However, WWE still has some more international PLEs lined up. Next month’s Money In The Bank will take place in Canada followed by Bash In Berlin in Germany in August and Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia in November. It is to be seen how WWE deals with the situation.

• WrestleMania Changes & Locations, More International PLEs

Meanwhile, it is also reported that his past was the primary reason he had not been hired earlier. But, under WWE’s newest regime under Triple H, the officials have long been interested in Fatu. As per the reports, Jacob Fatu has made “immediate good impressions within WWE”, and had a very respectful approach to everyone backstage.

Solo Sikoa previously recruited Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa and with Jacob Fatu’s addition, The Bloodline is looking unstoppable. Amid Roman Reigns’ absence, ‘The Enforcer’ is establishing his dominance on the blue brand and it will be interesting to see what else he has in store.

Related: Solo Sikoa And The New Bloodline Are The Key To Getting Cody Rhodes Back On Track As WWE Champion

AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone got up close and personal with NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer, ahead of their match this month. 

At CMLL’s Fantisticamania event in Arena Mexico, Mone arrived with her title and confronted Vaquer who was already in the ring. Mone gave credit to Vaquer, saying “You are not the same Stephanie I faced one year ago at New Japan Resurgence.” Vaquer had some choice words for Mone, which resulted in the TBS Champion slapping her opponent and the pair having a brief brawl that was broken up. 

Amid the chaos, Mone posed with both championship titles before retreating to the entranceway. Vaquer posed with her title in the ring and earned a loud ovation from the crowd. She was also seen clutching her jaw, a sign of the impact of Mone’s slap.

FULL segment of Mercedes Moné confronting Stephanie Vaquer in Arena Mexico.????#ViernesEspectacularCMLL #CMLL
pic.twitter.com/eyebFiWzee

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) June 22, 2024

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What’s Next? 

Mone and Vaquer will collide at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door on June 30 from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The match will see both the TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship on the line in an exciting ‘Winner Takes All’ match. This will be the first Forbidden Door match for either woman. 

Many are predicting that Mone will leave the event with both titles. Not only is the consensus that it is too soon for her to lose the TBS Championship, but the NJPW Strong Women’s Title was reportedly made with her in mind. Mone was set to become the inaugural champion until an injury mid-match led to an audible being called and Willow Nightingale winning the gold instead. 

Related: AEW TBS Champ Mercedes Mone Shines As Boston Celtics Win NBA Playoffs Finals

AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone got up close and personal with NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer, ahead of their match this month. 

At CMLL’s Fantisticamania event in Arena Mexico, Mone arrived with her title and confronted Vaquer who was already in the ring. Mone gave credit to Vaquer, saying “You are not the same Stephanie I faced one year ago at New Japan Resurgence.” Vaquer had some choice words for Mone, which resulted in the TBS Champion slapping her opponent and the pair having a brief brawl that was broken up. 

Amid the chaos, Mone posed with both championship titles before retreating to the entranceway. Vaquer posed with her title in the ring and earned a loud ovation from the crowd. She was also seen clutching her jaw, a sign of the impact of Mone’s slap.

FULL segment of Mercedes Moné confronting Stephanie Vaquer in Arena Mexico.????#ViernesEspectacularCMLL #CMLL
pic.twitter.com/eyebFiWzee

— ?????? (@WrestlingCovers) June 22, 2024

nnn

What’s Next? 

Mone and Vaquer will collide at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door on June 30 from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The match will see both the TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship on the line in an exciting ‘Winner Takes All’ match. This will be the first Forbidden Door match for either woman. 

Many are predicting that Mone will leave the event with both titles. Not only is the consensus that it is too soon for her to lose the TBS Championship, but the NJPW Strong Women’s Title was reportedly made with her in mind. Mone was set to become the inaugural champion until an injury mid-match led to an audible being called and Willow Nightingale winning the gold instead. 

Related: AEW TBS Champ Mercedes Mone Shines As Boston Celtics Win NBA Playoffs Finals

AEW made company history this past week and not in the way they wanted to. The 6/19 episode of AEW Dynamite received the lowest viewership and key demographic in the show’s entire existence on Wednesdays. 

Despite being less than two weeks away from Forbidden Door, Dynamite only garnered an average audience of 502,000, which is a 26.3% drop from last week, and the key 18-49 demographic only roped in a 0.16, over a 30% decrease from the previous week.

Those numbers are dreadful for Dynamite, but a report from Fightful has both AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery giving their reasons.

• Tony Khan On Shane McMahon’s AEW Interest: ‘I’ve Never Met Or Spoke With Him’

Sean Ross Sapp heard from AEW sources that a reason for such a drop-off was due to the absence of The Big Bang Theory lead-in. Instead of riding off the successful syndicated sitcom per usual, TBS aired Black Panther instead, affecting the usual built-in lead-in numbers. Therefore, the “tune-in” number was actually greater than the lead-in. That, however, didn’t stop their AEW sources from being shocked by the number.

When it comes the Warner Bros. Discovery perspective, the Fightful source played down the drop.

“Just a very odd week in general, and a confluence of stuff Juneteenth holiday in the middle of the week (when does a mid-week holiday ever happen in late spring/summer months?!). Competition with Olympic trials and college baseball all World Series in prime time. Amazing weather in much of the country (especially up here in the northeast), so lots more people out and about. Wouldn’t really put much into one week’s number, although I know the wrestling community likes to go nuclear with these kinds of one-offs.”

A different source from WBD claimed that the drop wouldn’t affect a potential new deal between AEW and the network.

Related: Jim Ross Wishes CM Punk Was Still In AEW