Cody Rhodes needs a new challenger for the Undisputed World Title, and AJ Styles figured out a great way to jump the line.
AJ Styles is at an important moment in his career. He wanted another shot at the World Title, but SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis told Styles that he’s at the back of the line. Styles has made it clear that he doesn’t have the patience for this setback.
In the closing segment of SmackDown this week, AJ Styles addressed the WWE Universe. While he was accompanied by Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, Styles explained his reasons for considering a step back from the business. Styles mentioned it might be time for him to focus on being a father instead.
Styles then invited Cody to the ring, stating that SmackDown is the house he built, and he was now handing the keys to The American Nightmare. What started as a touching moment took a dramatic turn as Cody was raising Styles’ hand in front of the fans.
Styles turned on Cody, launching a brutal attack on the Undisputed WWE World Champion. The assault concluded with a Styles Clash onto the floor from the ring steps. SmackDown ended with Styles looking very pleased with himself, and Cody was selling the attack.
This segment was very reminesant of another classic angle, one that fans might remember as Mark Henry’s most memorable segment that didn’t involve Mae Young giving birth to a hand.
In 2013, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry faked a retirement speech to get one over on John Cena. While wearing a now-legendary orange suit, The World’s Strongest Man acted like he had wrestled his last match, only to change his mind by attacking Cena. This time it was AJ Styles playing the same trick on Cody Rhodes.
WWE 2K24 was released on March 8, 2024, and the creator community hasn’t stopped since. There are a ton of amazing creations, and we’d like to spotlight them here. SEScoops has been providing in-depth coverage of WWE 2K24 since the game was announced, including DLC releases and updates, like the recent WWE 2K24 Patch 1.08 that includes new wrestler animations and other enhancements.
Each week, we’re going to
Liv Morgan’s Queen of the Ring Attire: Morgan captured the WWE Women’s World Title at King & Queen of the Ring. Her red jumpsuit was a hit with fans, and now that attire made the community creations.
Biased Referee: First off, we’d like to say that Roman Reigns is a terrible referee. A new video is going viral from royszn__ I TT of the Tribal Chief playing the special referee role, but giving a ton of favoritism to his cousin, Solo Sikoa as he battled The American Nightmare.
AEW Revolution Attire: CM Punk was included in the ECW DLC pack, which dropped on May 15. Since then, fans have been going crazy over new attires. This week, @GameVolt1 dropped Punk’s attire from AEW’s 2022 Revolution event, and they nailed the look.
— ? WWEADDICT4LIFE (XBOX Series X) | WWE2K24 |? (@NODQCreations) May 31, 2024
CM Punk’s 1 Million: Fans have really reacted to CM Punk’s inclusion in WWE 2K24. So far, gamers have raked up over 1,000,000 plays with the Second City Savior’s playable character:
MJF in WWE 2K24: No, MJF isn’t going to WWE anytime soon, but he still made the creator community for WWE 2K24. You can check out his model, with attire credit going to @Kamillion2k, and @HarvAddy doing the move set, below, and it’s very impressive.
Nobody on the Level of the Devil! ???@The_MJF 2024 return look is now available on #WWE2K24
QR Code Madness: Uncle Howdy’s stable is still making waves with QR codes everywhere. One even made it into WWE 2K24.
Nightbird Card: On another Uncle Howdy note, 2k dropped the card with the Nightbird logo for the game. He is listed as a manager, so take that for what it’s worth.
Tax Season Is Coming: IRS was created by @The_SkyFactor and @DW_Federation. This is a very nice replication of IRS’ look and we bet he is a hit in the community.
Jeff Hardy is WWE2K24: Although he may be with AEW right now, that didn’t stop him from making the community creations. This 2008 and 2009 attire by @Azorthious and @WhatTheStatus is spot-on.
NJPW Venues: WWE 2K24 gives gamers a chance to create custom venues as well. Osaka Dream Cinderella and Korakuen Hall got that treatment, and it’s very impressive.
Now on CC as part of the @GTEO2K project #stardom Osaka Dream Cinderella and Korakuen Hall V2. Stoked on my first drop as part of the team. Enjoy! #GTEO2K#WWE2K24
— Henry Finch · (?????????) (@henry_finch) May 26, 2024
Amazing Creations: @GameVolt1 released some incredible new textures for new ring gear. These attires include Awesome Truth from RAW on May 20, 2024, Jey Uso from Backlash 2024 and WrestleMania 40, and Carmelo Hayes from SmackDown on May 17, 2024.
WWE 2K24 Release & Reception
The standard edition of the game features Cody Rhodes on the cover, while the special edition marks a milestone with Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair, the first time female wrestlers have shared the cover. Originally, the “40 Years of WrestleMania” special cover included Brock Lesnar, but he was later removed.
The game is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics have praised WWE 2K24 for its significant improvements and refinements over previous versions.
There’s a long tradition of managers in wrestling. Indeed, there’s no shortage of old school fans who are nostalgic for the days when people like Bobby Heenan, Sherri Martel, Slick, Mr. Fuji, and Jimmy Hart were a staple part of WWE’s presentation. In earlier eras, the likes of Freddie Blassie, Lou Albano, and Arnold Skaaland were a major part of the show.
While Paul Heyman has carried the torch for managers who have a steady and important role, it has nonetheless felt as though managing is a lost art in pro wrestling and particularly WWE. That may well change, though, and the idea of Arn Anderson returning to WWE to rekindle his partnership with Cody Rhodes has a lot of appeal to it.
Arn Anderson Is Done With AEW
Arn and Brock Anderson
On the most recent edition of his podcast, ARN, Arn Anderson discussed wrapping up with AEW. His contract ended May 31, and he indicated that he wants to focus on help his son Brock develop.
Where Arn will help Brock remains unclear. The youngster quietly parted ways with AEW in the fall. It’s not certain WWE would be interested in him, but if there were the potential to bring both men into the fold, it has the makings of a win-win-win scenario.
Cody Rhodes Has Stated He Wants “A Classic Wrestling Manager”
Apr 7, 2024; Philadelphia, PA, USA; WWE Universal Championship match between Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes during Wrestlemania XL Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field.
Cody Rhodes joined Busted Open Radio earlier this month and, in the context of discussing how Logan Paul’s entourage had outnumbered him, he brought up his interest in having “a classic wrestling manager to join me on this title reign.” While some early conjecture on social media speculated about Brandi Rhodes joining him on the road, that doesn’t necessarily fit the classic or old school feel The American Nightmare seems to be grasping for.
Arn Anderson could fit that bill, as he fits a certain old school mold of men ranging from Bobby Heenan to Harley Race as in-ring performers who transitioned to managing champions. The Enforcer is many years past the point he can physically go in the ring, but his work in AEW demonstrated he can still be a potent contributor on the mic.
Cody Rhodes And Arn Anderson Have History
Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes
Arn Anderson’s most memorable on-screen efforts in AEW came when he backed up Cody Rhodes. While there’s a case to be made that neither man’s AEW run realized its full potential, they had their moments, including a noteworthy promo in which Double-A heatedly called on Rhodes to stand up for himself and show more fire.
Rhodes has already realized a great deal of his vision with his WWE return, thriving as a top babyface and “finishing the story” when he took the WWE Championship off Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Perhaps he could realize his full vision with Anderson as well, working in concert with each other.
Moreover, it’s easy to imagine Anderson revisiting something like his glock promo to light a fire under The American Nightmare in the dog days of his title reign, either between major feuds or after he’s suffered some major setback.
Arn Anderson Has Proven He Can Play The Victim To A Vicious Heel
Arn Anderson
Arn Anderson was part of the WWE team for quite some time after his in-ring career. The most memorable thing he did on-screen with the company, though, may well have been backing up Ric Flair against The Undertaker heading into WrestleMania 18.
The Dead Man targeted Anderson for a brutal, bloody assault to play mind games with The Nature Boy. Moreover, this sub-angle led to Anderson interjecting himself in the ‘Mania match to hit a spinebuster to a huge pop, before The Undertaker choked him out.
With Cody Rhodes seemingly destined to return to feuding with The Bloodline, there’s lots of potential for The Enforcer to revive that victim role as a guy old school fans are invested in and who knows wrestling psychology enough to sell well, even if he has severe limitations to what he can do in a wrestling ring. In particular, it’s easy to imagine a mixed callback of The Rock choosing to make Anderson bleed in the build to WrestleMania 41 to get at Rhodes in a new way before the two of them have their one-on-one showdown.
Cody Rhodes pairing up with Arn Anderson once again, and particularly under the creative direction of Triple H—who has demonstrated a respect for and analogous wrestling aesthetic to both—has all the potential in the world. If The Enforcer is interested, hopefully we’ll see this pairing happen on WWE television before long.
WWE appears to be in cost-cutting mode again, and NXT star Brooks Jensen is no longer with the company.
Brooks Jensen tweeted a screenshot with his booking information and the caption, “You know how it goes #WWENXT,” indicating his departure from the company.
SEScoops will keep our eyes open for any further updates, because WWE often releases talent in waves.
On the December 27, 2023 episode of NXT, Josh Briggs, Fallon Henley and Jensen agree to go their separate ways splitting up the team.
Jensen’s recent storylines in NXT didn’t showcase him positively. After his partnership with Josh Briggs and Fallon Henley ended, with Henley and Briggs moving on to bigger roles as singles stars, he didn’t do much.
Jensen’s character struggled with a depressed storyline, questioning his place in NXT. Brooks Jensen’s last match was on March 12, 2024, at WWE NXT. He competed for the WWE NXT North American Title, where Oba Femi defeated him in 11 minutes and 34 seconds.
We hope Brooks Jensen finds great success in his next venture.
WWE has released several talents and executives this year. This does not include lower-level office employees whose departures don’t make headlines. You can check out our ongoing WWE release and departure tracker for 2024 below.
Earlier this month, New Japan Pro Wrestling officially announced that AEW star and current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley would face EVIL on June 9th at the historic Osaka-jo Hall in Japan. EVIL, the leader of the Bullet Club sub-group “The House of Torture,” has now demanded that their match be a Lumberjack Match, adding an extra challenge to the already anticipated showdown.
During an Interview with New Japan Pro Wrestling, EVIL declared that he is the rightful IWGP Champion and that a Lumberjack Match would ensure that Moxley would have “no escape.”
“Since this low life mud show ‘wrestler’ wants to run away from any kind of a fair fight under IWGP rules then I have something for him. June 9 in Osaka Jo Hall, a Lumberjack Match for the title. That way he has no escape…
He can talk about “gang warfare” all he wants, but all he has in his gang of reprobates is that waste of space, Umino, right? When he’s trapped in the ring with no way out around him, he’ll see his future is as bleak as that fake title he carries around.
If he wants to bring his snot-nosed brat with him, he can, and we’ll make sure both understand what justice looks like. June 9 in Osaka Jo Hall, I’ll crush you in a Lumberjack Match. Don’t you forget it!” – EVIL
The match type is one that EVIL is very familiar with; in January, he defeated Tama Tonga for the NEVER Openweight Championship in the aforementioned match stipulation. One can assume he’s hoping for the same results at Dominion. EVIL’s clash with Jon Moxley was made official shortly following his attack on Moxley At NJPW Resurgence.
While this is the first time Moxley and EVIL will square off one-on-one, it isn’t the first time they have shared a ring. Recently, the two faced off as part of a 6 man-tag-team match at Night 1 of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku 2024.
Jon Moxley has been nearly unstoppable since winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
Since dethroning Tetsuya Naito at Windy City Riot to win his first IWGP Heavyweight Championship, Jon Moxley has been on a solid run in both NJPW and AEW. Moxley has already defended the championship three times since winning it in April, defeating Powerhouse Hobbs, Ren Narita, and Shota Umino.
Jox Monley was supposed to defend the championship against Takeshita at AEW Double or Nothing. However, it was later reported that NJPW vetoed the match being for the title.
AEW Double or Nothing Match Card (Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling)
The report from The Wrestling Observer noted that the Japanese promotion likely did not want to announce another title match ahead of Moxley’s bout against EVIL at Dominion. The match was later made into an “Eliminator Match,” meaning that Takeshita could have received a championship match at a future date if he had won.
Moxley faced off against Rocky Romero in a match with the same stipulation on the latest episode of AEW Dynamite.
On May 15th, The Young Bucks announced on AEW Dynamite that Champs Sports would sell an exclusive Reebox AEW Pump Omni Young Bucks Zone II sneaker. Today, The All Elite Wrestling EVPs have confirmed reports of strong sales, revealing that their limited-time sneaker is completely sold out.
As previously reported, Champs Sports held nearly 3,000 pairs of sneakers, selling them for $130.00. They were available in sizes 7.5 to 12. The Young Bucks promoted the sneakers on social media and at AEW’s Double or Nothing Media Scrum.
In a short post on X, the current AEW Tag Team Champion revealed that Champs Sports was totally sold out.
— Matthew & Nicholas Jackson (@youngbucks) May 31, 2024
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the reception of shoe sales was overwhelmingly positive, noting that future footwear collaborations could be coming.
“It was a one time special edition release, but with the success they are already in talks about a future project for the next year.”
The Elite’s reign over AEW has hit a speedbump
At AEW Double or Nothing, The Young Bucks, along with fellow members of The Elite, Jack Perry and Kazuchika Okada, narrowly defeated the AEW frontlines contingent of Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, and FTR in an Anarchy In The Arena Match. This essentially cemented The Elite as the unmatched powerhouse stable of All Elite Wrestling.
On the following edition of AEW Dynamite, The Young Bucks attempted to present Jack Perry with the newly vacated TNT Championship. Thus ensuring that every member of The Elite would be draped in gold.
Just before The Elite could award Jack Perry the #TNT Championship, "The Fallen Angel" returned to make a HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT!
Unfortunately for the corrupt outfit, AEW President Tony Khan threw them a curveball. As The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels returned, following his “firing” weeks before. Daniels revealed that Khan had appointed him as Interim EVP and that, going forward, he would be a direct spokesman for The President.
Daniels interrupted The Young Bucks’ impromptu coronation ceremony to announce that a new TNT Champion would be crowned at Forbidden Door through a multi-man ladder match. He also mentioned that qualifying matches would be arranged for the ladder match, ensuring that no one would receive any free passes. This led to The Elite attempting to attack Daniels, but The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn intervened to even the odds.
It appears that The Elite’s hold on AEW is not as tight as they had assumed!
Gable Steveson‘s WWE run ended like a disappointing mid-season NFL halftime show, overhyped by the network and met with apathy.
While that might come across as a bit harsh, there truly isn’t much else to say when it comes to Steveson’s time in WWE. The Gold Medalist was introduced to fans at WrestleMania 38 and ended his career with a handful of dark matches before being released earlier this month.
One of the few Superstars who had a chance to work with Steveson was former NXT standout Trevor Lee, known to the WWE Universe as Cameron Grimes. Of Gable Steveson’s five main roster Dark Matches, Lee competed in two of them, and it seems like the experience wasn’t exactly something that
Gable Steveson, an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant college wrestlers in NCAA history, is signing with the Bills, per his agent Carter Chow.
Steveson now will try to join Bob Hayes as the only athlete to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal. pic.twitter.com/TfJn4Cd7B1
Today news broke that Steveson was signed by the NFL team Buffalo Bills, drawing various reactions from fans, media personalities, and others alike. In response to a post from former WWE media personality, Kazeem Famuyide, who asked “what position” Steveson would play, Trevor Lee gave what could only be described as a blunt answer:
“Whichever one requires the least amount work and has other people make him look good I’m assuming? Wait wrong sport….”
Gable Steveson’s only televised match in WWE came via its developmental brand’s Great American Bash PLE in 2023. When the 24-year-old Indiana native took on Baron Corbin in one-on-one action. During the match, it was clear that Steveson still had a lot of work to do. The crowd in Austin, Texas turned on the young star and was cheering for the clear heel in Corbin.
Although becoming a WWE Superstar wasn’t in the cards for Steveson, the National Football League may be the environment he needs. There is no doubt that he’s an incredible athlete, and with the right training, an NFL career could work out very well for the University of Minnesota alumni.
WWE has been doing record business, grossing $1.32 billion in sales last year. The company’s $5 billion deal with Netflix to bring WWE Raw to the streaming platform in January 2025 will bring another massive windfall of cash. However, many fans wonder how much of that trickles down to the athletes we see on television.
Top Superstars spark bidding wars and command multi-million dollar contracts. Setting aside stars like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair, a new report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter sheds light on the current annual baseline.
According to Dave Meltzer, the current minimum salary for WWE Superstars on the main roster is $350,000 per year. Most wrestlers sign multi-year deals, and you can be sure the top stars on each brand are making far more than the minimum. WWE is in a strong position to make lucrative financial offers to talent. However, there’s a trend emerging that should not be ignored.
Numerous Contracts Expiring
WWE is heading into an interesting dilemma as several featured stars on the main roster contract will expire soon. One of the most significant examples is Becky Lynch, who could be a free agent by the end of the week. As of now, it doesn’t seem they have yet to reach a new agreement.
Another talent that could test free agency is Chad Gable. Although he has been heavily featured on Monday Night Raw and involved in a feud with Sami Zayn, his contract will expire at the end of next week.
It’s unclear why so many talent contracts are set to expire so soon. Although numerous superstars are near free agency, they may ultimately re-sign with WWE. Wrestling fans should have more clarity soon as the company must expeditiously reach new agreements with their superstars.
German wrestling promotion Westside Xtreme Wrestling’s contract with WWE expired on May 30, at which time WXW content will no longer be accessible on WWE Network. According to PWInsider, it was a case of their agreement expiring and not being renewed.
WXW was the last remnant of independent wrestling content on the WWE Network. Besides WXW, some of the other independent wrestling content on WWE Network included shows from Evolve, Progress Wrestling, and Insane Championship Wrestling.
A subscription model which would include independent shows was in the plans for the streaming service, but it didn’t come to fruition. Instead, content from Progress and WXW was added via VOD to the Network and Peacock.
So where can you watch WXW programming now? The promotion will stream its events on YouTube going forward. The company would also be free to secure deals with other streaming providers after a long time, so we could potentially see WXW on some other streaming platform soon.
The latest event from the promotion is wXw Drive of Champions 2024, which is set to take place on Saturday, June 1. NJPW TV Champion Jeff Cobb will be at the event facing Mike D Vecchio.
TNA Wrestling has undergone numerous changes recently, raising many questions about the company’s future operations. These developments have caused considerable concern within the professional wrestling community, highlighting the uncertain direction in which TNA is heading.
One of the most alarming changes was the ousting of Scott D’Amore, which sparked significant unrest. In response, some members of the TNA locker room signed an open letter urging the company to reconsider their decision. This move reflects the deep unease and desire for stability among the talent and staff.
In the new Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer detailed further significant developments behind the scenes. Robert Evans, a central figure on the creative team, resigned last week. Additionally, several other key personnel have been dismissed. Notably, there are no scheduled events beyond the tapings on August 2nd and 3rd in Tampa, indicating a possible hiatus or reorganization period.
PWInsider also reported that RD Evans, who served as both the head of creative and a producer, resigned from TNA last week. Furthermore, Dave Sahadi, the Creative Director, along with several members of the live events division, were dismissed. These departures signal a major shakeup within the company’s creative and production departments.
The timing of these changes is particularly interesting as TNA is rumored to be on the verge of a deal with WWE. Jordynne Grace is set to face Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Title at Battleground in the UFC Apex on June 9, which is said to be just the beginning of crossover efforts between WWE and TNA. This potential collaboration adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing developments within TNA Wrestling.
Gable Steveson’s WWE release came as a surprise to many fans, as the company was expected to give him a major push. Now, he is pursuing a different career path.
According to Adam Schefter, Steveson is signing with the Buffalo Bills, as confirmed by his agent, Carter Chow. Steveson will now aim to join Bob Hayes as one of the few athletes to win both a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal.
There had been previous reports of NFL interest in Steveson, and it appears the Bills have officially secured his services.
Gable Steveson is an Olympic gold medalist and one of the most dominant college wrestlers in NCAA history, but he has never played organized football.
Steveson’s crossover to football is particularly notable because he never played high school football. This move highlights a trend where NFL teams, similar to WWE’s Next In Line program for collegiate athletes, are recruiting players with little to no prior experience.
Gable Steveson’s WWE Tenure
Many believed that Gable Steveson had a bright future in WWE. To support his development, WWE established a remote training facility for him while he completed his studies at the University of Minnesota. Despite being featured in significant WWE events like WrestleMania 38, fans did not connect with him as expected, often resisting the Olympian’s rapid push.
In 2022, Steveson underwent a heart ablation to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and took time off to recover before resuming training. As WWE’s first NIL signing, his struggle to succeed highlights the unique skills needed in professional wrestling. His match against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash underscored these challenges, with the crowd’s “You’re Not Angle” chants, so fans were not eager to latch onto him.
Gable Steveson getting “You’re Not Angle” and “Bullshit” chants from the crowd in his debut pic.twitter.com/jfcsledaXP
We’d like to wish Gable Steveson the best in his new career with the Buffalo Bills in the NFL. Ironically, he may be a part of games that directly compete with WWE RAW as part of Monday Night Football.
Brock Lesnar has not been seen for quite some time, and that is not going to change until his legal situation is resolved. SEScoops exclusively reported in March, “No one is going to get involved in that situation. This is a legal issue, and until the lawyers decide that Brock is to be brought back, there is no movement at all, or a movement on his behalf.” In the latest Wrestling Observer, Dave Meltzer corroborates our scoop with this note:
“Regarding any rumors of Lesnar returning, he has to be cleared by WWE legal (remember WWE is still a defendant in the Janel Grant lawsuit), and that hasn’t happened yet.”
Janel Grant’s court battle against WWE and Vince McMahon will be delayed, but that’s not necessarily good news for the company. Grant has agreed to postpone the lawsuit at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice, an ominous sign for McMahon that indicates additional legal pitfalls ahead.
This decision means it will take longer than initially planned before the two sides face off in court, as the case remains under a non-public investigation. As a result, the timeline for Lesnar wrestling again has effectively been delayed indefinitely.
Brock Lesnar Impacted by Janel Grant Lawsuit
Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleges that in July 2021, Vince McMahon directed her to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar he wanted to re-sign. The lawsuit did not name the wrestler but described them as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. Although Brock Lesnar was not mentioned, the timeline suggests a limited number of possible wrestlers.
The lawsuit claims McMahon shared explicit photos with the WWE Superstar, who responded positively. In December, McMahon allegedly gave Grant’s personal cellphone number to the wrestler. The wrestler then requested a video of her urinating and used derogatory language toward her. A meetup was planned but did not happen due to travel issues.
Brock Lesnar was removed from the WWE intro package and has been absent from promotional materials and vignettes since the controversy. His WrestleMania 40 match against GUNTHER was also scrapped, along with his planned bout against Dominik Mysterio at Elimination Chamber.
In WWE 2K24, Lesnar was removed as a playable character but still exists in the game’s code. He was replaced by John Cena on the Forty Years of WrestleMania cover. He remains under WWE contract.
Cody Rhodes vs. Roman Reigns may well go down as one of the greatest feuds of the modern era. Few, if any, rivalries in recent years have captured quite the same emotional investment as this program, rooted in strong in-ring and mic work alike from both principal players. Perhaps the most important ingredient to the program’s success was each man’s backstory.
Even going into the first WrestleMania main event between the two, The Tribal Chief was riding a historic wave of momentum as a long-reigning, dominant champion—a dynamic that had only intensified going into WrestleMania 40. Meanwhile, The American Nightmare embraced a story of redemption both for his own unconventional career path and for his family.
Indeed, the story set such a high bar that the title reign Rhodes has embarked on since has felt a bit anticlimactic for not living up to how it got started. The key challenger to get this run back on track is none other than Solo Sikoa.
There Hasn’t Been Drama To Any Cody Rhodes Title Defenses Thus Far
One can’t fault AJ Styles or Logan Paul as challengers to Cody Rhodes. Both men are skilled performers who more than carried their ends of excellent WWE Championship PLE matches against The American Nightmare. However, there’s also an undeniable truth: no one thought Styles or Paul had a legitimate chance of taking the title off Rhodes.
Indeed, WWE has found itself in a confounding situation of a great main event face coming off an incredibly dramatic story with no sense he’s in any jeopardy of losing his title right away. As credible as Styles is as an all-time great in-ring worker, it’s hard to imagine him winning a world title in WWE again unless a string of injuries to other top stars make the company “break glass in case of an emergency.” Meanwhile, Paul is well-established as an upper mid-card player, but it’s hard to imagine him carrying the top prize in the business anytime soon.
WWE may well have made the right call in feeding Rhodes challengers who aren’t believable but could give him very good matches while fans wouldn’t believe he’s dropping the title anyway. That will have to change soon, though, for this title reign not to feel flat.
The New Bloodline Has Heat
The new Bloodline, running under Solo Sikoa’s leadership, has been a provocative part of WWE programming since WrestleMania. The faction and its defining family are over with the WWE audience. Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are fresh faces who’ve added intrigue to faction, and insiders make it seem like only a matter of time before Jacob Fatu joins the mix.
With Sikoa declaring himself the leader in the absence of Roman Reigns, there’s also intrigue around what will happen when The Tribal Chief does return, or what things will look like when The Rock is back on WWE television. All of that sets up buzz around the Bloodline again, without over-exposing them too dramatically (including going so far as to leave the group off the King and Queen of the Ring PLE altogether).
A time will come sooner than later when Sikoa will be ready to take his rightful place as a bona fide main eventer. Cody Rhodes will be waiting.
Solo Sikoa Is Well Protected
Yes, Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa has happened before. It occurred on numerous house shows and in dark matches, and even once on Raw as The American Nightmare got ready to challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 39. Nonetheless, their issue feels far from played out, as the two haven’t collided on a PLE before, and their one televised bout was long enough ago not to be fresh on fans’ minds.
Moreover, Sikoa feels ready to main event. His televised losses have been few, far between, and only at the hands of top-tier talents. He also has a decisive victory over John Cena to still hang his hat on. All of this means that it would only take a small push rather than rehabilitation to position him as a credible challenger for the WWE Championship.
Cody Rhodes Vs. Solo Sikoa Can Be A Gateway To Bigger Things
It’s possible for WWE to position Solo Sikoa as a legitimate challenger to Cody Rhodes. Moreover, even in the likely case Rhodes survives that challenge and walks away champion, there’s every potential for WWE to keep a compelling story going.
With The Rock and Roman Reigns each waiting in the wings, The American Nightmare’s continued war with The Bloodline could naturally segue to one of these much bigger matches. While some fans feel Rhodes vs. Reigns is played out, it’s still a bankable main event rematch for WWE to stage at some point. From there, Rhodes vs. The Rock feels like the masterplan—the dream bout that a general consensus of fans has prognosticated to headline WrestleMania 41 and a match that can naturally follow from Rock showing up to backup or perhaps avenge his kin, Sikoa.
Cody Rhodes has made every scenario thrown at him since his WWE return work for him, and the smart money is on his title reign turning out to be very good. The right challenger will really spark something, though, and Solo Sikoa is a prime candidate for that spot.
AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone has backed Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown after the latter faced criticism. On ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith claimed that his NBA sources texted him saying Brown is not “liked” due to his ego and that’s why he’s not marketable. Boston Celtics shooting guard responded to Smith on X and asked him to reveal his sources.
Mercedes Mone also entered the fray. She backed Jaylen Brown and said that she wanted to have a chat with Stephen A. Smith’s source. ‘The CEO’ further questioned the identity of the ‘source.’ She also flaunted her AEW TBS title win and said she’s “super excited” to see Brown win the NBA title.
“Hey
@stephenasmith, from one #GOAT to another, The CEO wants to sit down with your source.
@FCHWPO, from one superstar to another, I just won my championship & I’m super excited to see you win yours. Keep lifting the game and the community the way you’ve been doing. Go Celtics”
Hey @stephenasmith, from one #GOAT to another, The CEO wants to sit down with your source. @FCHWPO, from one superstar to another, I just won my championship & I'm super excited to see you win yours. Keep lifting the game and the community the way you've been doing. Go Celtics ?
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) May 30, 2024
Mercedes Mone has been an ardent Boston Celtics fan and she is often spotted in attendance for their NBA games. She was also spotted at a game following her AEW debut at ‘Big Business’ edition of AEW Dynamite in her hometown, Boston.
‘The CEO’ recently made an impactful in-ring debut for AEW. She dethroned Willow Nightingale at AEW Double Or Nothing pay-per-view at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the final moments of the match, Mercedes hit her finisher, Mone Maker, and captured the title on her in-ring debut.
Huge match for Mercedes Mone teased
During the latest edition of AEW Dynamite, Skye Blue was revealed as Mone’s mystery attacker which set up a title match between the two. ‘The CEO’ successfully retained her title and this marked her first title defense.
Following the match, CMLL’s Stephanie Vaquer, who is the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion made an appearance. As AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door is approaching soon, it seems that Mone and Vaquer could have a match at the pay-per-view.
A lot of things have changed in wrestling since The Undertaker made his debut in 1987. The path to success in the business wasn’t defined as well and aspiring wrestlers had to do a lot of unexpected things to get the experience they needed back then. For the Last Outlaw, this meant wrestling in places such as a federal prison just to get good at his craft.
The Dead Man reviewed this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw in a new video on his Patreon page and answered some questions.
During the talk, Taker was asked if he ever wrestled in prison. The wrestling veteran recalled one of his early trainers booking him for one such show:
“Oh, yeah. It was a federal prison. Kind of like a pre-release prison. It was pretty interesting. You know, back then, anytime anybody had a ring going up somewhere and you can get on a card, you got on it. That was just how it was because there was nothing more valuable than ring experience. So I remember the guy that invited me to go. He actually trained me a little bit too. His name was Rick Davidson. Him and his brother were a tag team in the 70s.”
The Undertaker revealed that ironically, he was working the gimmick of a Russian grave digger at the time and detailed the environment they had to deal with for these events:
“I want to say my name was Boris Dragu – the Russian grave digger. How about that for irony? And you haven’t been heckled till you’ve been to a prison show. They don’t give any kind of dams about what they say or what they do. It was always that long walk in through the prison to get to where we had the wrestling event…But that’s funny. I haven’t thought about that in years, but yeah, I’ve worked there. I worked there several times.”
Rick & John Davidson were two brothers who were born in Texas in the early 50s. They wrestled for promotions such as NWA Hollywood and MSW Mid-South Wrestling.
All eyes are on TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace as she prepares to make history. On June 9, she will challenge NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez for the title at Battleground. The important matchup will be the first time an active TNA superstar and champion will challenge for a WWE title.
While Grace is focused on achieving a career milestone, she has announced her title defense at TNA Against All Odds on June 14.
‘The Juggernaut”‘ shared on Sirus XM Busted Open with Tommy Dreamer and Dave LaGreca that she will hold an open challenge for her championship at the TNA pay-per-view.
After Grace revealed that her title match was an open challenge, it immediately caught the attention of Dreamer and wrestling fans. TNA Against All Odds, taking place after NXT Battleground, has people wondering if a WWE talent will accept her challenge.
PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that the ongoing relationship between WWE and TNA could extend beyond NXT Battleground. Due to Grace hosting an open challenge, it’s plausible for anyone from the NXT women’s roster to make an appearance. That said, it’s still unclear if that is what’s being planned, and it’s possible TNA could have her face a talent from their roster.
Regardless, Grace’s announcement adds more anticipation for what will happen at NXT Battleground.
Jorydnne Grace On Potentially Becoming NXT Women’s Champion
Grace’s match against Perez will also mark the first time they will compete against each other. ‘The Juggernaut’ noted that they both grew up in Texas but never had the chance to interact. Although it will be her initial encounter with Perez, Grace feels prepared to win the NXT Women’s Championship. She has already decided that she would be willing to compete on any TNA and NXT events if needed as champion.
“…Honestly, I’m prepared to put my nose to the ground and grind it out again. I did it for years when I was on the Indies, so I’m not a stranger to it, and I’m ready to do it again,” said Grace.
The TNA Knockouts Champion will be in for the match of her life when she faces Perez next month. If she is successful, Grace holding both titles would be a historic moment for WWE and TNA.
Former All Elite Wrestling talent Marko Stunt will return to wrestling after a one-year hiatus. Stunt has been out of action since January 21, 2023, after a loss to Mike Jackson at GCW Take A Picture. He will compete at A Love Letter To Professional Wrestling, presented by Wrestle ACTION, on September 14.
The announcement was made by an independent wrestling superstar, Brayden Toon, on his X account. Alongside revealing that Stunt will compete on the show, Toon shared a highlight video of the former AEW in-ring work.
? The second talent announcement for “A Love Letter To Professional Wrestling” is Marko Stunt!!
— ?????????? ??????? ???? (@toon_brayden) May 29, 2024
As noted in the post, tickets for the event have yet to go on sale. The event will occur at Clements High School in Athens, Alabama.
Before Stunt was advertised for the show, the first talent Toon promoted was Derek Neal on May 20. It seems Toon will announce all participants involved in A Letter To Professional Wrestling on X and will likely reveal more names in the coming days.
Stunt has yet to comment on his upcoming return on social media. However, his comeback will have his fans interested in what’s next in his wrestling career.
Marko Stunt Working In The Independent Wrestling Scene
Longtime AEW fans may recall Stunt being featured in the company alongside Jack Perry(FKA Jungle Boy) and Killshot (FKA Luchasaurus) as a group. He mainly competed in tag team matches on AEW Dynamite, with them in losing efforts. His last match with AEW was a defeat against Serpentico at AEW Dark on October 5, 2021. The following year, he was quietly let go by the company
After being let go by AEW in 2022, Stunt has been solely competing on the independent wrestling scene. He would wrestle for several different indie promotions, including Game Changer Wrestling. Currently, It’s unclear if he has any interest in signing with a promotion.
Hopefully, Stunt’s in-ring return on September 14 will lead to more appearances from him moving forward.
Glenn Jacobs, aka Kane, wrote reacted to the news, after Clay Travis of Outkick.com posted the following on Twitter:
“Trump is guilty in business records case. In related news, congrats to Donald Trump on his election as the 47th President of the United States.”
Jacobs posted the following reply to the tweet:
“Yep. Tonight, the political class will be patting each other on the back and offering toasts at their cocktail parties. On November 5th, they’ll be shaking their heads wondering what happened.”
The Knox County mayor also wrote “And people say pro wrestling is fixed” to another post about the topic.
Jacobs is the Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, and affiliated with the Republican Party, which Trump is also affiliated with. Trump is the presumptive nominee of the party for the 2024 presidential election.
Jacobs announced he was officially running for the mayoral seat of Knox County in March 2017. In May 2018, he won the Republican primary election for the seat by 23 votes, and was elected mayor in August 2018. He won a second term in the election in August 2022.
Trump’s indictment is the first of a former US president, and was convicted on May 30, 2024. His sentence hearing is scheduled for July 11 this year, and it is not known yet what sentence Trump would receive. The 77-year-old is expected to appeal the conviction.
Bryan Danielson celebrated his birthday in a unique style.
‘The American Dragon,’ who turned 43, marked the occasion on May 22 in a different fashion. It seems his birthday wish was to test himself ahead of the chaotic Anarchy In The Arena match at AEW Double Or Nothing PPV. He told Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated that he was fasting for a day before going for a five-mile hike. He revealed:
“I was fasting for over 24 hours. Meanwhile, I drove from Bakersfield [California] to Las Vegas, got in at midnight, and was up by 5:30 for a five-mile hike.”
Danielson’s birthday was last Wednesday and he competed against 7-foot giant Satnam Singh in the main event of AEW Dynamite. The veteran wrestler won via DQ after he was attacked by Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt. Eventually, The Elite also took him out until Darby Allin made the save.
The Elite (The Young Bucks, AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada, and Jack Perry) emerged victorious over the team of FTR, Darby Allin, and Bryan Danielson after a chaotic Anarchy In The Arena match at Double Or Nothing pay-per-view. Fans at MGM Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada were ecstatic throughout the gruesome battle. Bryan Danielson’s ROH theme song ‘The Final Countdown’ was also played in the background during the match which thrilled the fans even more.
There could not be a more appropriate song as Anarchy unfolds here at the @MGMGrand!
The final moments of the match saw The Elite taking out Bryan Danielson with their finishing moves. Jack Perry then secured the victory by pinning Danielson – one of the biggest moments in Perry’s career. AEW Double or Nothing went off the air as The Elite stood tall with Perry on their shoulders.
New AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone received a special case of Tequila from George Clooney following her victory at AEW Double or Nothing 2024.
In one of three advertised main events of the show, Mone captured the title from Willow Nightingale, a year on from their NJPW Resurgence encounter. This title win was also Mone’s first match since joining AEW at the Big Business: Dynamite in March 2024. Double or Nothing would go from bad to worse for Nightingale who was also betrayed by Kris Statlander following her title loss.
On social media, Mone shared that she had received a case of Clooney’s Casamigos Tequila from the Ocean’s Eleven and Batman And Robin star. Mone explained that since she already had plenty of celebratory Tequila after her victory at Double or Nothing, she wanted ‘the boys’ to enjoy some of Clooney’s brand Tequila. This was good news for Orange Cassidy who was able to enjoy a drink with the new AEW TBS Champion.
On the May 29, edition of AEW Dynamite, Mone made her first successful title defense when she retained against Skye Blue. The young wrestler had been revealed as the woman behind a recent attack on Mone that set up their title match.
After that match, Mone was confronted by CMLL’s Stephanie Vaquer. In addition to appearing for CMLL, Vaquer is the reigning NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. It appears that a match between the two is being set up between the two at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door.
WWE’s newest signing Giulia has provided a positive update after successfully undergoing surgery.
The Japanese superstar recently went under the knife after she suffered a wrist injury. Taking to her X account, Giulia posted a photo of herself and revealed that she had been discharged from the hospital. She also thanked the fans who were concerned about her.
”Discharged from the hospital! Thank you to everyone who was worried about me! I’m fine!”
Giulia had suffered a fractured right wrist during a match on Monday, May 20 at the Marigold Fields Forever event. She had joined forces with Utami Hayashashita and faced former NXT star Sareee and Bozilla in a losing effort. She sustained the injury a few minutes into the match but finished the bout that went on for over 28 minutes.
Following the injury, the 30-year-old wrestler had to withdraw from her upcoming matches including the Hana Kimura tribute show. However, she’s still scheduled to battle Sareee at Marigold’s Summer Destinyevent on July 13. Despite the injury, there are some massive plans for her in the pipeline for her debut.
Giulia was involved with WWE during the WrestleMania 40 weekend. She made her first WWE appearance at NXT Stand & Deliver as she was in attendance. Recent reports suggest that WWE officials are hoping that the Japanese sensation will recover before NXT Heatwave which is scheduled for July 7.
Meanwhile, the officials within NXT believe that Giulia will enter the NXT Women’s title picture immediately. The Japanese star is expected to battle Roxanne Perez for the title at the show. However, these plans might be altered due to Giulia’s injury.
Several names took part in creating the blueprint for the Casino Gauntlet match that went down on the 5/29 episode of AEW Dynamite, but one significant name was a catalyst, as expected.
According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Khan was instrumental in laying out the main event match for AEW Dynamite, which happened to be the fallout show for this past weekend’s Double Or Nothing.
Internally, Khan was listed as a coach on the match and had help from QT Marshall, Colt Cabana and Serpentico at laying out the match. AEW has been very happy with the reception as it will be Will Ospreay challenging Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door.
Some surprise names were implemented into the bout including Mistico, Shota Umino, Lio Rush and Hechicero. The other competitors were PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, Orange Cassidy and Jay White.
Many were speculating that Strickland and Ospreay would first go head-to-head later this year at ALL IN at Wembley Stadium, but fans will get at least an early sample of that fight next month when Forbidden Door takes place in Long Island.
This news of Tony Khan laying out the fight comes not long after the AEW President was accused of booking AEW television last minute by Bryan Alvarez.
Other matches that went down on the 5/29 AEW Dynamite was Jon Moxley in another IWGP World Title Eliminator Match against Rocky Romero, Mercedes Mone took on Skye Blue and Swerve Strickland faced Killswitch.
WWE Tag Team Champion Grayson Waller isn’t interested in a UK-based WrestleMania and believes such a show would be “very depressing” for fans.
The Aussie Icon was at WWE Money in the Bank 2023 when John Cena shared his intention to bring WWE’s flagship show to the UK. At London’s O2 Arena, Waller argued that WWE’s first international WrestleMania should be in his native Australia and ate an Attitude Adjustment for his troubles.
Given what transpired in London, Waller has taken a staunch anti-UK stance when it comes to the possibility of an international WrestleMania. Speaking to the UK’s Daily Star newspaper, Waller shared why he thinks a UK-based WrestleMania is a bad idea.
“I just don’t think it’s something that I want to do, that most of the wrestlers want to do. I’ve been to London. it’s a depressing place, and I think WrestleMania in London would be a very depressing WrestleMania. We don’t want that. So, its Sadiq, right? [referring to London Mayor Sadiq Khan being in favor of WrestleMania.] Well, I think you’re an idiot and WrestleMania in Australia is going to be much better!”
Waller isn’t a fan of the idea of WrestleMania in the UK.
UK WrestleMania: Is It Possible?
There are obvious logistics WWE will have to consider when deciding whether a WrestleMania in the UK will be viable. Perhaps the most obvious will be the timezone difference. If WrestleMania began at 8 pm local time, that would be a 4 pm ET start in the United States.
Triple H has said that anything is possible when it comes to WrestleMania taking place in the UK. With that said, WWE President Nick Khan has reportedly said that WWE’s ‘Big Four’ events will remain in North America for the foreseeable future. WWE will return to the UK very soon for its upcoming WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland event and a well-performing show could make WWE seriously consider WrestleMania in the UK.
In professional wrestling, podcasts covering the industry are as common as clotheslines and headlocks. For those brave explorers seeking to venture into the pro wrestling podcast vortex, we here at SEScoops want to make your journey as easy as possible. Each week, we will update you on the Top 25 most-listened to wrestling podcast episodes, with a focus on the Top 5 (including embeds).
This feature uses data from Apple Podcasts compiled by Chartable.
Some within the WWE Universe are still wrapping their minds around the fact that The Undertaker – The Phenom and Lord of Darkness – has a podcast. However, it’s very true, and the WWE Hall of Famer is currently killing it. On the latest edition of The Deadman’s podcast, Calaway invited UFC Fighter Tim Kennedy to discuss training, fights inside and outside the cage, mental health, hunting, and more.
Love or hate him, Jim Cornette doesn’t care what you think. His presence in professional wrestling goes back decades, and he is one of the pioneers in producing weekly content on wrestling commentary. One can expect to find a plethora of “hot takes” and in-depth conversations on the latest happenings around the industry. In the show’s latest episode, Cornette is stuck with no power due to bad weather and trudges on anyway.
3) Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru | ?
Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru is very similar to Cornette’s other show, The Jim Cornette Experience. The difference is that Cornette opens up the show to the fans, as he and Brian Last answer questions on various topics.
4) Insight with Chris Van Vliet |
Chris Van Vliet isn’t just one of the most well-respected interviewers in professional wrestling; he’s an internationally recognized media personality. CVV is a 4-time Emmy Winning TV Host, YouTuber, and Inc. 500 entrepreneur who’s interviewed everyone from Anne Hathaway to Hornswoggle. In his latest episode, Vliet talked to WWE Superstar Sonya Deville about returning from injury, transitioning from MMA to WWE and more.
5) Busted Open |
Sirius XM biggest professional wrestling show is available on all your favorite streaming platforms! Host Dave LaGreca speaks with a rotating cast of co-hosts, including Bully Ray, Mark Henry, Tommy Dreamer, Thunder Rosa, and Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler). The show covers the latest in professional wrestling news throughout the industry, with special emphasis on WWE, AEW, NJPW, and TNA.
Top 6-25 Wrestling Podcasts – Apple (May 30, 2024)
A lawsuit against WWE, John Laurinaitis, and Vince McMahon has been put on pause at the request of the United States Department of Justice.
Janel Grant is suing the three parties over allegations she was sexually abused and trafficked during her time working for WWE. Grant had been a part of the company’s legal department and worked closely with McMahon during her time under his employ.
While Grant’s allegations were enough to see Vince McMahon step down from WWE and TKO in January, it will be longer than planned before the two sides face off in court. Grant has agreed to delay the lawsuit at the request of the U.S. Department of Justice. A statement from Grant’s legal representative Ann Callis reads:
“Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation. We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.”
Callis does not give the reason why the U.S. Department of Justice has made this request. In a sealed filing today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District Of New York presented material to the federal court of a probe they have opened into McMahon. The 78-year-old billionaire’s business operations will be under the microscope as part of this probe.
“We remain confident the evidence will prove Ms. Grant’s allegations are false and her complaint is nothing more than a fabricated, vindictive narrative from a disgruntled former girlfriend.”
McMahon has denied all allegations against him and has claimed that Grant’s lawsuit is “rife” with fabrication and inaccuracies. Rosenberg has stated that Grant was in love with McMahon and that her “false allegations are slowly unraveling.”
