Drew McIntyre’s heel work has no boundaries when it comes to furthering his feud with CM Punk. The Scottish Warrior continued to wage mental war against his upcoming opponent for SummerSlam, bringing the actual Jack Perry into the mix.
Both AEW and WWE have a presence at the San Diego Comic Con this year and WWE’s side actually includes both McInytre and CM Punk. Drew sure had some cruel intentions in mind as he happened to cross paths with Perry who is just fresh off of nearly getting lit aflame at Blood & Guts the day before.
McIntyre made sure he didn’t miss getting a Kodak moment with Perry. To add further salt to the wound, Drew dipped into the words Perry had for Punk during ALL IN 2023 in his match against HOOK.
“It’s a real photo, cry us a river,” McIntyre wrote as he shared the photo. However, McIntyre either reconsidered his post or got word to take it down because he has removed it from his socials.
The history between Punk and Perry isn’t one of good nature as their is infamous footage behind the scenes where Punk scuffled with Perry after Jack decided to use real glass in his street fight battle with HOOK. AEW ALL IN 2023 ended up being Punk’s final appearance with the company as Tony Khan fired him the following weekend.
McIntyre will face CM Punk at SummerSlam but not without some added moderation as Seth Rollins will be the special guest referee.
CM Punk has revealed that former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s departure from the company paved the way for his return.
‘The Second City Savior’ spoke to Denise Salcedo at San Diego Comic Con and said that Vince McMahon being out of the picture was one of the factors for his comeback to the company after a decade.
“No, because it was never a thing that I was yearning to do. There were a lot of things that had to happen for the pathway to kind of clear. The stars had to align. There had to be a full moon. A lot of dominoes fell in order for us to get here. There was a never a, ‘Man, I’d really like to go back.’
He added:
“Vince (McMahon) being out of the picture probably illuminated the way. That might have been one of the biggest things. That’s both ways, for everybody who is going to sensationalize a headline. It wasn’t me, it wasn’t him, there’s just a lot of history there. All of a sudden, one of us is removed from the equation, and I think it changed a lot of things.”
Vince McMahon had stepped down from his roles in June 2022 after it came to light that he was involved in a hush-money scandal with former WWE employees. He returned the following year as executive chairman of the TKO Group Holdings. However, he left WWE yet again earlier this year due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit which alleged abuse and trafficking.
Meanwhile, CM Punk returned to WWE last year at WWE Survivor Series and shocked the pro wrestling fraternity. During the interview, Punk also stated that he knew his surprise return would be a big deal. The former WWE Champion competed in his first WWE match in almost ten years at the 2024 Royal Rumble. Unfortunately, he suffered torn tricep during the match and has been on the shelf ever since.
The former WWE Champion is set to make his comeback at next month’s SummerSlam where he will face his arch-rival Drew McIntyre. It was also recently announced that Seth Rollins will serve as the Special Guest Referee.
A surprise meeting between WWE higher-ups and London Mayor Sadiq Khan has renewed hopes that WrestleMania could be hosted in the UK. Khan, who won re-election earlier this year, met with WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and WWE President Nick Khan at London’s City Hall, the Daily Star reports. Mayor Khan confirmed the meeting and shared his excitement at WrestleMania coming to London.
“It’s exciting to be working with the WWE team. The meeting was really productive, and talks will continue about how we could turn our ambition into a reality.”
During his re-election campaign, Mayor Khan pledged to create a task force to encourage more international sports to the UK capital. Nick Khan added that it was “great to hear” about Khan’s “vision” for how WWE can support his plans for London.
WrestleMania in London
Fans in the UK have been rallying for a WrestleMania of their own for years, but interest in the idea skyrocketed following WWE Money in the Bank 2023. At the event, which took place in London, John Cena made a surprise appearance at the event and shared his goal to bring the Showcase of the Immortals to the city.
Despite WWE bringing more events overseas in recent years, WrestleMania could remain in the good ol’ U-S-of-A despite the wishes of fans. WWE President Nick Khan has stated that the company’s big four events (WrestleMania, SummerSlam, Survivor Series, and Royal Rumble) will remain in North America for the foreseeable future.
Counsel for Vince McMahon filed a four-page motion in federal district court in Connecticut on Thursday accusing Janel Grant of violating the stay in her civil suit against McMahon, World Wrestling Entertainment and John Laurinaitis.
On July 16, counsel for Grant filed a bill of discovery complaint against Peak Wellness and Dr. Carlon Colker in Connecticut. The complaint asked for medical records and other information regarding Grant when she was a patient at the clinic. The complaint accused Peak Wellness of refusing to provide Grant with electronic information, sending only paper copies of records that were incomplete.
The complaint said Peak Wellness denied Grant access to her records and had failed to provide discovery in her federal case twice during the spring. The filing claimed Grant visited the clinic under McMahon’s discretion over 60 times in a year and a half.
The Department of Justice asked the judge to stay the case in June because it could interfere with a federal grand jury investigation of McMahon that’s ongoing in the Southern District of New York.
Both McMahon and Grant’s counsel agreed to the stay, which expires in December.
“Today’s motion is in response to Ms. Grant’s flagrant violation of the federal stay order,” Jesica Taub Rosenberg, a lawyer for McMahon, said in a statement provided to SEScoops.
“After telling the federal court she would pause her lawsuit, Ms. Grant immediately violated the stay order by seeking one-sided discovery for her benefit. Her lawyer told the media that the information in the new Connecticut state action is to ‘assist in our claims in the federal action.’ We are asking the federal court to ensure the plaintiff abides by the court’s order and if she does not, that civil contempt and financial sanctions may result.”
In a statement to B.J. Bethel last week, Grant counsel Ann Callis said the filing didn’t violate the stay.
“We did not violate a federal stay by filing a state action against a non-defendant,” Callis said.
Sources familiar with the case said there was no violation since Peak Wellness and Colker aren’t defendants in the federal suit, and it was a state court action.
McMahon’s counsel is asking the federal court to temporarily lift the stay so it can file a motion accusing Grant of violating the order.
In Grant’s civil complaint, filed in January, she accused McMahon and a Peak Wellness employee of sexually assaulting her.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are finally here, athletes who have been training their whole lives are about to test themselves on the world’s grandest stage. Despite pro wrestling’s staggering popularity around the globe, it’s is somehow NOT currently recognized as a sanctioned Olympic sport. Crazy. However, there are enough parallels that we think our readers who love pro wrestling can find a lot to enjoy about this year’s games.
New U.S. team: The U.S. Olympic Trials produced several first-time Olympians who will be eager to prove themselves in Paris.
Helen Maroulis going for history: The American wrestler is attempting to become the first U.S. woman to win three Olympic medals in wrestling.
New champions emerging: None of the three U.S. gold medalists from Tokyo are returning, opening up opportunities for new wrestlers to claim Olympic glory.
Hassan Yazdani’s quest for gold: The Iranian wrestler nicknamed “The Greatest” will be aiming for another gold medal in the 86kg freestyle division, with his rival David Taylor not competing.
Young stars emerging: Wrestlers like 20-year-old Kennedy Blades of the U.S. will be looking to make their mark on the Olympic stage.
Intense competition schedule: Wrestling events will run from August 5-11, featuring daily medal matches across various weight classes and styles.
Venue atmosphere: The wrestling events will take place at the Champ de Mars Arena, with the iconic Eiffel Tower as a backdrop.
Arena Champ-de-Mars
Open heavyweight division: With 2021 champion Gable Steveson not returning, the men’s freestyle 125kg class is wide open for a new champion.
Taha Akgul’s comeback: The Turkish heavyweight who lost to Steveson in Tokyo will be looking to reclaim gold in the 125kg category.
Zhan Beleniuk’s title defense: The Ukrainian wrestler, who is also a member of Ukraine’s parliament, will attempt to defend his gold medal from Tokyo.
Team USA Paris 2024 Olympic Wrestling Team
Schedule
Mon, 8/5 through Sun, 8/11. Every single event streams live on Peacock, while select events will broadcast on the USA Network and CNBC. (Full Schedule)
Meet the Team
Payton Jacobson: Olympian 2024, Northern Michigan, Elkhorn, WI
Spencer Lee: Olympian 2024, University of Iowa, Murrysville, PA
Helen Maroulis: Olympian 2016, 2020, Simon Fraser University, Rockville, MD (1 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze)
Kayla Miracle: Olympian 2020, 2024, Campbellsville University, Bloomington, IN
Mason Parris: Olympian 2024, University of Michigan, Lawrenceburg, IN
Dominique Parrish: Olympian 2024, Simon Fraser University, Scotts Valley, CA
Josef Rau: Olympian 2024, Elmhurst College, Chicago, IL
Kamel Bey: Olympian 2024, Bellwood, IL
Kennedy Blades: Olympian 2024, Arizona State University, Chicago, IL
Aaron Brooks: Olympian 2024, Penn State University, Hagerstown, MD
Adam Coon: Olympian 2024, University of Michigan, Fowlerville, MI
Ronda Rousey and her husband Travis Browne are celebrating after the ex-WWE star shared that the couple is expecting their second child. Rousey shared the joyous news while attending a panel at San Diego Comic-Con hosted by fellow WWE alum Dave Bautista.
Rousey’s appearance at SDCC was to promote her graphic novel debut ‘Expecting the Unexpected.’ Ironically, the protagonist, who bears a striking resemblance of the Rousey is codenamed ‘Mom’ and uses a fake pregnancy belly to carry weapons and other tools for her role as a hitman. The new comic is penned by Rousey, edited by Axel Alonso of AWA Comics, and has art from Mike Deodato, Jr. (Avengers, Not All Robots, The Flash.) A Kickstarter to support the project has already reached over $6,000 in donations.
The Baddest Mom On The Planet
Rousey and Browne, also a UFC alum, married in 2017 and welcomed their first child La’akea Makalapuaokalanip? into the world in September 2021. Rousey is also a stepmom to two of Browne’s sons from a previous marriage.
The former WWE Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion has made no secret of her desire to be a mom. Following her loss at WrestleMania 35 in 2019, Rousey embarked on a multi-year hiatus from wrestling, during which she gave birth to La’akea. She returned as part of the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble match mere months after giving birth and won the 30-woman contest.
More recently, Rousey has shared her desire to have a large family. When asked by Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated about a potential UFC return, Rousey made clear her family plans take precedence.
“I want to have a whole basketball team full of kids, I can’t take any more detours. I’ve always wanted to be a mom with a lot of kids.
Rousey may still be a few players short of a basketball team, but the Baddest Woman On The Planet will soon become a mother yet again. We here at SE Scoops would like to offer our congratulations to Ronda and her family at this joyous time.
Fuego Del Sol will make his Ring Of Honor debut on the July 25 taping.
Former All Elite Wrestling talent Fuego Del Sol will return to the company to compete on a taped Ring Of Honor episode on July 25. The episode will stream live on ROH Honor Club at 7 PM ET/4 PM PT.
Sol teamed with Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin), Action Andretti, and Komander to go against Iron Savages (Boulder, Bronson & Jacked Jameson), Anthony Henry & Nick Comoroto in a Ten Man Tag Team match. Although the match has occurred already, Thursday’s episode will mark Sol’s debut in ROH.
— ROH – Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) July 24, 2024
AEW fired the masked competitor last year after nearly three years with the company. Since then, Sol has competed in various independent wrestling promotions, including Game Changer Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling. He recently lost to KC Navarro at a Battleground Championship Wrestling event on July 6.
Although his debut occurred on July 20, the Thursday episode of ROH does have fans curious if he’ll be making more appearances for the company. Sol spoke about his return to the company for the tag team match on X. a
He mentioned that his debut occurred a year and a half after his last match with AEW. Sol also openly shared how grateful he is to have his first match in ROH.
“…This ROH Debut is so much more than just a match to me! Proud, excited, and overall I’m grateful to get to show this audience how hard I’ve been working this past year! Let’s go,” wrote Sol.
What’s Next For Fuego Del Sol?
Despite the ROH appearance, Sol still plans to stay busy on the independent wrestling scene. He is advertised to team with Sam Stackhouse against Rich and Powerful (Charles Mason & Richard Holliday) at GCW: Can I Trust You on August 4. Another notable match he is set to compete in will be against Ichiban at a WrestlePro event on September 28.
Besides staying busy facing other talented wrestlers for different promotions, Sol is also continuing to change his physique. He shared a photo of himself looking in a mirror in incredible shape compared to when he was in AEW.
Life seems to be going well for Sol as he continues to grow as a performer. His debut in ROH could also lead to more opportunities for the brand moving forward. Regardless, fans have Sol should look forward to his tag team match this Thursday.
The war between WWE NXT and the Pat McAfee Show shows no signs of slowing down after Shawn Michaels warned of an a** kickin’ for the Raw announcer’s co-hosts.
The issues between NXT and McAfee’s co-hosts have been growing since the release of the ‘Pat McAfee Pack’ in WWE 2K24. The latest wave of DLC includes the Raw announcer, AJ Hawk, Boston Conner, Darius Butler, and Ty Schmit.
On Twitter, Michaels threw out the challenge to Schmit, Conner, Butler, and Hawk, inviting them to face off four Superstars from the Hall of Famer’s roster. Michaels was immensely confident in his NXT Superstars who’ll deliver an a** kickin’ if a match happens.
Michaels isn’t the only WWE NXT name with some choice words for McAfee’s co-hosts. In a tweet of her own, Karmen Petrovic shared her own idea as to why fans aren’t thrilled at non-wrestlers in WWE 2K24.
God forbid fans want to play with wrestlers in a wrestling game ?
While having McAfee’s co-hosts in the game may appeal to fans of the Raw commentator and his sports show, it has ruffled feathers with fans of WWE. Keep tuned to SE Scoops for the latest in this unlikely beef as it unfolds in WWE and beyond.
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez is enjoying a great run. She previously held the title in 2022 for less than four months. Reflecting on what’s different the second time around, Perez says her ‘heel’ persona has helped bring out her best.
In a new interview, Perez shared that the change from a beloved ‘Babyface” to her new persona has led to having more fun with her current role in NXT.
The champion spoke with Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Al Castle about the decision to turn “Heel” and asked if she had second-guessed herself about the character switch. Perez replied that she was eager to embrace the role because she wanted to step out of her comfort zone as a “Babyface.”
“I was really excited, honestly. I’ve always played the babyface role, which is why I can see why people would question it a little bit and wonder if it would work,” said Perez. She added, “I’m having so much fun with it. I’m definitely getting out of my comfort zone since I have always been in that babyface role. I think it’s really fun. I think that I’m definitely really stepping out of my comfort zone, out of the little box that I was in, and I feel like I’m definitely going to be able to do some really cool stuff in the future.”
Along with the character change, “The Prodigy” has also successfully retained her championship against the likes of Jordynne Grace, Natalya, and Lola Vice. As she continues dominating the women’s division, fans wonder when Perez will take the next step and transition to the main roster.
Roxanne Perez Comments On Main Roster Move
In the interview, Perez shared her thoughts on moving to the main roster and that her current run in NXT has conflicted with her transitioning to the bigger stage. “The Prodigy” noted that when she first got to WWE, she had already considered being on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night Smackdown.
While the thriving “Heel” champion enjoys her second reign as WWE NXT Women’s Champion, Perez admits that nine years of wrestling experience has made her a little impatient for moving to the main roster.
“…I’ve been training for about nine years now, so to really think about that, like, oh, dang. I’ve been in the wrestling business for almost a decade. I definitely feel young but old in wrestling years, so that part of it kind of makes me a little bit more impatient to get up there, and I feel like I have all the tools to succeed up there,” said Perez. She added, “…There is times where I feel like the clock is ticking and people always tell me, you know, ‘You’re young. You have so much time,’ but I’m like, I know I’m young, but I have so much to give right now.”
Despite Perez’s eagerness to join the main roster, she also believes that her current run in the developmental brand is part of the journey to achieve her goal. At 22, the best years of the NXT superstar career are still on the horizon. She’ll look to continue her dominance as champion and prove that she is the best on the NXT women’s roster.
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 update you on the Top 25 most-listened-to wrestling podcast episodes, focusing on the Top 5 (including embeds). This feature is based on data from Apple Podcasts compiled by Chartable.
Up Rank
Down Rank
Unchanged
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Top 5 Wrestling Podcasts – Apple (July 18th, 2024)
As Kelly Clarkskin said in her smash hit Behind Those Hazel Eyes, “Here I am, Once again…” This is our very corny way to tell you that WWE Hall of Famer Mark Calaway, better known to the WWE Universe as The Undertaker, is once again in the #1 position of top wrestling podcast.
The former World Champion first jumped into the game in October 2023 and hasn’t looked back since.
In the latest episode of Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway, Taker and co-host Matt reflect on the “chaotic” last few episodes. In addition, The Lord of Darkness discusses what it’s like being “a flag football dad”, how the idea for him to dress as Kane came about, and also confirms if he’s “banned from the State of Vermont.”
2) Insight with Chris Van Vliet | ~
When it comes to the #2 spot on the top wrestling podcast charts, this entrant would probably make like the Jackson 5 and proclaim, “I’ll be there!” (Okay, we promise this is the last of the bad song puns – maybe).
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 four-time Emmy-winning TV Host, YouTuber, and Inc. 500 entrepreneur who’s interviewed everyone from Anne Hathaway to Hornswoggle.
In his latest episode, Vliet spoke with former WWE Superstar Donovan Dijak. The two spoke about his WWE departure, AEW Forbidden Door, the infamous RETRIBUTION faction, his most recent NXT run, and more!
(Want to hear more from Dijak?! Check out SEScoop’s recent interview with him here!)
3) Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru |+
Okay, one more bad music pun. Clearly a fan of Ace Frehley, Jim Cornette Back In The Top 5 Grove!, both in the #3 and #5 positions, respectively.
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.
In the most recent episode of Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru, Cornette covers a wide range of topics, including AEW Dynamite, RAW, Hulk Hogan at the RNC, and much more.
4) Busted Open | ~
Join Sirius XM’s biggest professional wrestling show, as 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.
“Bully Ray & Tommy Dreamer discuss the future for AEW on TV with Sports Business Journal’s Austin Karp. Also, the Fat N Furious speak with NXT’s Lexis King about his rise in WWE’s Black & Gold brand”
5) Jim Cornette Experience | –
Rounding out the Top 5 is the ever-controversial, yet purely authentic Jim Cornette.
“This week on the Experience, Jim reviews WrestleMania XL: Behind The Curtain, as well as Smackdown! Plus Jim talks about The Iron Claw, Afa in court, Khan money, Nevada, and more! Also, Jim reviews classic audio of Dream Machine quitting Jimmy Hart’s First Family in 1981!”
WWE’s first night of its ongoing tour of Japan saw the Superstars bring the action to Osaka, Japan. This tour marks WWE’s first tour of Japan since 2019 and will continue for two more nights in Tokyo.
Here are the results for WWE Live in Osaka, Japan:
Match:WWE Women’s World Championship: Liv Morgan (c) def. IYO SKY
This would be SKY’s first of two matches on the night and the Japanese Superstar got a big reaction in her home country. Morgan seemed very pleased for somebody whose heart was broken during this week’s WWE RAW.
Asuka made an appearance alongside her Damage CTRL allies to a huge pop from the crowd. This marked Meiko Satomura’s first match for WWE since February 2023. Tiffany Stratton had her Money in the Bank briefcase which was taped together after being destroyed by Bayley on a recent episode of SmackDown.
Meiko Satomura arrives in Osaka to team with Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill & Bayley to take on Damage CTRL & Tiffany Stratton!#WWEOsaka ?? pic.twitter.com/X9WS3PegEL
Match: WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Damian Priest (c) def. Jey Uso
In a rematch from WWE Backlash: France, Uso was unable to dethrone Priest. After the match ‘Main Event Jey’ bowed to the crowd in Oska in a sign of respect. Jey and Priest also share a ‘Yeet’ at the event.
— TheUso-Twinz.com | Fansite For The Usos (@theusotwinzcom) July 25, 2024
Match: GUNTHER def. Rey Mysterio
Mysterio wore a Hanshin Tigers uniform, acknowledging the Nippon Professional Baseball team. GUNTHER, who got a lot of cheers, defeated the WWE Hall of Famer with a powerbomb, according to a fan on Twitter who attended the show.
— ??(??????1?4?1?5?????? (@KD_masaki_86) July 25, 2024
WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) def. AJ Styles & Shinsuke Nakamura
Cody shared his gratitude to the Osaka crowd after retaining the Undisputed WWE Championship in the show’s main event. He also invited a young Japanese fan to pose with him to end the night.
Arn Anderson is far from a video game player, but what ‘The Enforcer’ saw from Cody Rhodes and Call Of Duty, he liked.
WWE has collaborated with the ever-popular first-person shooting game, Call Of Duty for season five of their latest game, Modern Warfare 3 and WarZone. The collaboration included “finishing moves” and an array of character skins to use for the game including Rey Mysterio, Rhea Ripley and ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes.
An in-game action screenshot was taken of Cody Rhodes holding an assault rifle and it conjured up memories for Arn Anderson. Rhodes’ former “coach,” ever loaded with a zinger, had a good one for the current WWE Undisputed Champion.
All this stems back to the notorious “glock” promo Arn cut on Cody back in September of 2021, giving Rhodes a reality check during his feud with Malakai Black. Anderson said Rhodes was the type of guy who would let someone hijack his car, while “The Enforcer” would pull out his glock and defend his wheels. You can catch the promo below.
In a video published on the AEW YouTube channel, Bryan Danielson revealed that his wrestling contract with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is set to expire on August 1st, coinciding with his son’s fourth birthday.
Danielson candidly shared his thoughts on the upcoming milestone:
“That’s true. August 1st, actually. Next Thursday. My wrestling contract is up. Which also happens to be my son’s fourth birthday. … I’m not saying this, like Tony (Khan) talked about this in an interview so I feel comfortable talking about it. I’m not MJF in this like trying to use my contract to be like ‘give me all the money!’. Yeah, my contract is up August 1st.”
Reflecting on the future, Danielson mentioned the discussions he had with his wife, Brie Bella, before signing the contract:
“When I signed this contract, me and Brie talked about how this would be the last wrestling contract I would sign. Part of me is wondering what life is like after this, part of me is excited about that.”
Despite the uncertainty, Danielson remains focused on his immediate commitments:
“But right now, even though Wembley is after this, I still have to focus on that. That’s got to be my focus, but yeah, it’s a wild time.”
Aside from being one of the greatest pro wrestlers to ever live and a locker room leader behind the scenes, Danielson also serves as a close advisor to Khan. As he completes his last full-time wrestling contract, Danielson has a wealth of knowledge to share and could contribute to the business long after he’s wrestled his final match.
Earlier this week, AEW President Tony Khan expressed his hope that Bryan Danielson will continue to stay with the company for “as long is humanly possible.” More on this here:
House of Black (Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews & Brody King) are not leaving AEW anytime soon despite speculation of their departure.
There have been rumors regarding Malakai Black’s future. It was speculated that he would be jumping ship to WWE. However, that is not the case. PWInsiderhas reported an update about the House of Black members’ contracts.
While the duration is not known, it has been noted that Matthews has inked a new deal with AEW this past February. On the other hand, Malakai Black’s current deal will keep him with the promotion till 2025. The outlet further refuted the rumors about their departure from AEW.
Buddy Matthews has been away from the AEW programming for quite some time. The Patriarchy attacked Matthews in a backstage segment to pull him from the programming. During his hiatus, Matthews got married to WWE wrestler Rhea Ripley.
The Patriarchy are the newly crowned AEW Trios Champions. The House of Black are set to get a shot as they previously defeated the Bang Bang Gang, who were the champions at the time.
It seems that once Matthews is back, they will go after The Patriarchy. Amid Matthews’ absence, Malakai Black and Brody King are teaming up as a tag team. Earlier this month, they defeated The Premier Athletes (Ariya Daivari & Tony Nese) on AEW Rampage.
Earlier this year, Rodriguez was removed from WWE’s internal roster due to health concerns. Now, reports state that the former NXT Women’s Champion, who has been absent for months could return soon. PWInsider has reported that there have been some talks of Raquel Rodriguez returning to the ring in the near future.
The Texas native has been away from in-ring action since the February 26 edition of Raw where she defeated Chelsea Green. Raquel Rodriguez is a former 3-time Women’s Tag Team Champion. She has won the titles twice with Liv Morgan and once with former WWE wrestler Aliyah. Rodriguez had also won the NXT Women’s title during her run on the developmental brand.
Raquel Rodriguez having health issues
Rodriguez had revealed that he was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome. In January, the 33-year-old star opened up on the Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), having allergic reactions like hives, swelling, and respiratory difficulties. This led to her taking time off.
The journey is far from over. I finally got some answers as to what caused this but it’s going to be a while til I can get it fully under control.
I know one thing. I’m blessed to have an amazing support system. Family, friends, I love you all??
All Elite Wrestling’s Scorpio Sky recently sat down with Chris Van Vliet to reflect on his journey in wrestling and his time with the company. Sky has been a part of AEW since 2019 and is a two-time TNT Champion and one-half of the inaugural AEW World Tag Team Champions.
On His AEW Hiatus
Despite being an AEW original, Sky hasn’t appeared regularly in some time and his most recent AEW match was in September of 2023. On the podcast, Sky acknowledged that he’s “been in and out over the last couple of years.” While Sky said that some it has been down to injuries, he rejected the idea that he is ‘injury-prone.’
“I did get hurt about two years ago but I was okay within like a couple of weeks. But the problem is when you fall out of the rotation, we have so much talent, that it’s hard to get back in the rotation.”
During his absence, Sky has been working out and shared plans to get back on the independent scene. He said it’d be a “really fun thing” to go back to his roots and “have some banger matches.”
On Making an AEW Return
While Sky has the independents in his sight, his main goal right now is an AEW return. On the podcast, Sky said he feels ready to get back on TV.
“I’m ready. I think we’re just waiting for the right opportunity, for the right situation. Again, there are a lot of guys in the company and people coming in all the time… it’s just a little tough sometimes to work your way back.”
On Working With Sting
One of the biggest matches for Sky came at AEW Double or Nothing 2021 when he and Ethan Page faced Darby Allin and Sting. This would be the Icon’s first live match in AEW and his first match in front of a crowd since WWE Night of Champions 2015.
“That’s one of my favorite matches ever. I have two matches that are my favorite matches I’ve ever had and that’s one of them.”
The match was even more special as Sting had originally joined AEW under the proviso of only having cinematic matches. Sky added that Sting told himself and Page that he trusted them both to make sure he was okay in front of a live crowd.
“We just did the best we could to obviously protect him. But he’s a maniac and wants to do crazy things as well… He was in great shape. We had to talk him into not wearing a shirt.”
On Being Chris Jericho’s First AEW Loss
During the seventh episode of AEW Dynamite in 2019, Sky and Frankie Kazarian retained their World Tag Team Titles against Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara. This match marked Jericho’s first defeat in AEW, an accolade that isn’t lost on Sky.
“He’s world champion and then I pinned him and then we did the whole face-to-face interview thing and then I wrestled him for the title. He ended up going off with Moxley after that, which was a good little transition.”
Jericho, in Sky’s view, legitimized AEW and helped television networks take an interest in the upstart promotion. On the podcast, Sky even went as far as to compare Jericho legitimizing AEW to a certain WWE Hall of Famer.
“I always think it’s similar to when Hulk Hogan went to WCW in the mid-90s. It’s just like, it puts that stamp, okay, we’re we’ve arrived.”
On WWE’s Anger Management
Long before he was All-Elite, Sky appeared as ‘Harold’ in WWE’s anger management segments featuring Kane and Daniel Bryan (now AEW’s Bryan Danielson.) Despite being an official WWE production, A lot of ‘Harold’s’ work was on the fly.
“A lot of it was improv. I think there was a line where I put my hand on Kane’s thigh. And that one, I just did it, it wasn’t planned. I think the line was something like, Thank you for sharing Kane, it was just one of those things I had fun with and I didn’t expect anything of it.”
Despite being a wrestler at the time, there were never any plans for Harold to compete in WWE. Sky shared that he’s never watched the anger management segments in question, and finds it funny that fans still remember him for those angles, 12 years later.
This week’s AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts event was a successful night for Tony Khan’s promotion, even if things reportedly didn’t go as first planned. The July 24, edition of Dynamite marked the fourth-annual Blood & Guts match which saw Team AEW defeat The Elite in the violent double-cage structure.
This year’s Blood & Guts Dynamite took place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN, a city AEW has hosted several events in since launching in 2019. This week’s show outsold AEW’s last trip to Dynamite, Fightful Select reports.
AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts saw Britt Baker win her first match since returning to AEW TV by defeating fellow ex-Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida. Baker’s victory was short-lived however, as she was confronted by Mercedes Mone and blindsided by the debuting Kamille.
Kamille’s debut had been kept very quiet, the report adds, but she has been under contract and being paid since February of this year. Kamille was reportedly backstage at an AEW Dynamite back in January and graphics and materials for her debut have reportedly been ready for some time.
AEW’s Brian Cage is set to don the iconic loincloth once more to reprise his role as He-Man in the upcoming fan film ‘Fall Of Grayskull: Rise Of The Horde.’ Cage’s participation in the film was announced by Red Serial Films on Instagram this week.
The film serves as a sequel to the popular 2015 short film ‘Fall Of Grayskull’ in which Cage also played He-Man. A synopsis for the new movie via Kickstarter reads as follows:
“In the end credits of part one, we tease of Hordak preparing to invade Eternia..where this movie will pick up. Prince Adam/He-Man has to deal with taking over as king after the death of his father, the inner struggle of being forced to kill Skeletor in the previous film, and trying to protect Eternia from this new invading army. Like He-Man, Teela is also struggling with the loss of a parent and attempting to take on her new role as guardian of Grayskull. We also meet Adora who is contemplating the morality of her life in the Horde and discovering her destiny of becoming She-Ra.”
You can check out Cage in the first He-Man: Fall of Grayskull film down below.
Cage certainly has the build to once-again portray the iconic character of the 1980s that has seen a revival in recent years thanks to a Netflix adaptation and several comic projects. Although the former FTW Champion set to return to the world of Eternia, fans can expect to see plenty of Cage in AEW after signing a new contract last year.
MVP has appreciated the “ride” he’s been on since returning to WWE, even though many believe it could come to an end very soon. On Instagram, MVP shared a photo of the night he returned to WWE as part of the 2020 Men’s Royal Rumble match.
In the caption, the Hurt Business alum spoke of being brought back as a producer, which didn’t work out as the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of live events left WWE not needing him in the role. MVP also addressed his time as a commentator, an in-ring talent, and working with ‘Roberto’ Bobby Lashley in WWE.
MVP’s WWE Status
MVP’s reflections on his time in WWE since his 2020 return come amid reports that he and Bobby Lashley could soon be out of the company. It’s been reported that both men (alongside Tamina Snuka) have been removed from the promotion’s internal roster, signifying that there are no plans for them on TV. Lashley hasn’t competed on WWE TV since April of this year and MVP, the manager of Omos, has similarly vanished from shows.
Following reports that he had been removed from WWE’s internal roster, MVP shared a salute emoji online. Another report has claimed that MVP and Lashley are both considered to be ‘gone’ by those in WWE as both men’s contracts are said to expire soon. While an offer was reportedly made to Lashley, it’s said that this deal was one the All Mighty would be in no hurry to sign.
MVP has certainly done plenty since returning to WWE though a title reign has continued to allude the manager/commentator/Superstar/producer. Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on this ongoing situation.
The son of a true legend in the world of professional boxing will be part of the upcoming WWE tryouts that will take place over SummerSlam weekend. Elijah Holyfield, the son of Evander Holyfield, will be a part of the tryouts, PW Insider reports. The tryouts will take place on Friday, August 2, and for the first time ever, fans will be able to watch the tryouts and perhaps get their first glimpse at a future WWE Champion.
Despite being the son of one of the biggest names in boxing, Elijah Holyfield has focused is athletic career on football. The 26-year-old played college football in Georgia and has been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals as a running back. Holyfield stands at 5-foot-10 and weighs 215lb.
On Twitter this week, the younger Holyfield gave a taste of his athletic prowess.
Should Elijah make it through the tryouts and sign a WWE contract, he wouldn’t be the first member of his family to compete in a wrestling ring. During an August 2007 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Evander Holyfield, subbing for the ‘injured’ MVP, boxed Matt Hardy. After Holyfield refused to do more damage to Hardy who was seemingly unable to fight back, MVP got in the face of the boxer and earned a right hand for his troubles.
WWE has held tryouts around several events in recent years with names like Nikkita Lyons, Tatum Paxley, Edris Enofe, Javier Bernal, and Monday Night Raw’s Maxxine Dupri all joining after a SummerSlam tryout. These tryouts have demonstrated that there is no one way to make it into WWE and an athletic background outside of the ring can often be as valuable as someone spending years on the independents.
WWE SummerSlam 2024
SummerSlam 2024 will take place on August 3, one day after the Priority Pass tryouts, from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The show will be the second SummerSlam from Cleveland and currently has seven matches announced. In addition to in-ring action, SummerSlam weekend will see Damian Priest: Live, which will include the premiere of his WWE: 24 episode and a live panel from El Campeon.
Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from these upcoming talent tryouts as well as the Biggest Party of the Summer.
A new fan getting into All Elite Wrestling should check out five matches in particular, according to company President Tony Khan. Since launching in 2019, AEW has hosted some of the most unique, violent matches but there are some that stand out. Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, Khan had the following matches to recommend as must-see viewing.
MJF Vs. Bryan Danielson (Revolution 2023)
Described by Khan as “among the very, very top,” AEW’s first-ever Iron Man match saw MJF retained the AEW World Championship against the American Dragon. The bout also raised questions as to whether MJF goes too far with his character after throwing a drink at a young fan.
The Young Bucks Vs. Omega/Page (Revolution 2020)
From the inaugural Revolution pay-per-view, this tag-team title match saw Omega and Page retain the gold against the AEW EVPs. On a night that also saw the second-ever AEW World Champion be crowned in Jon Moxley, it was this half-an-hour tag-team match that stole the show in Chicago.
Dr. Britt Baker Vs. Thunder Rosa (Dynamite 3/17/2021)
A “fantastic” Lights Out match, Thunder Rosa defeated Britt Baker in the main event of St. Patrick’s Day Slam in a bloody Lights Out match between the two. The match also marked the first time an AEW event was headlined by female wrestlers.
The Young Bucks Vs. Allin/Sting (Revolution 2024)
The final match in the legendary career of Sting, Khan called the Revolution 2024 main event “my greatest moment,” and the pay-per-view AEW’s “greatest show I think we’ve had here.” The match proved to be a fitting send off for The Icon as he and Allin bested the Bucks and ensured Sting finished his AEW career undefeated.
MJF Vs. Will Ospreay (Dynamite 250: 7/17/2024)
From the 250th episode of AEW Dynamite, MJF and Will Ospreay had a 59:58 war over the AEW International Championship. Despite a valiant effort by Ospreay, and a ‘terrorist’ attack in his favor, MJF won the gold with the use of the Dynamite Diamond Ring.
AEW has hosted some exceptional matches in the five-and-a-half years since its launch and that’s expected to continue in the months and years to come. While this list may be contained to just five examples, AEW has countless matches worth checking out in its ever-growing library of All-Elite content.
The ‘Blood and Guts’ special of AEW Dynamite from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee on July 24 delivered everything fans were expecting from it.
The main event of the show was the classic cage match brought back to life where Team AEW took on The Elite. The bout was every bit as brutal as expected with memorable spots such as Darby Allin’s coffin drop from the ceiling of the cage and The Elite teaming up to attack Swerve Strickland with staple guns.
The Babyfaces won the match at the end after Darby almost set Jack Perry on fire, and it was the perfect cue for a…marriage proposal.
A video has surfaced online which shows ringside announcer Justin Roberts helping a fan in the front row propose to his girlfriend after Dynamite went off air:
After the bloodied war in the main event of #AEWDynamite#BLOODandGUTS, some fan decided it was the perfect time for a marriage proposal and Justin Roberts helped him do it.https://t.co/QKsa8wfY9m
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) July 25, 2024
What Happened on Dynamite
The special episode of the Wednesday night show featured many notable story developments before the main event. The opening segment saw the new AEW International Champion MJF cutting a promo.
The Salt of The Earth did something unthinkable and threw the International title belt in the garbage. He said that he deserves a better title, before unveiling a new belt dubbed the AEW American Championship.
The show also included matches such as Chris Jericho vs. Minoru Suzuki and Hikaru Shida vs. Dr Britt Baker. If all this wasn’t enough, the long-anticipated debut of a female star also took place during the night. You can check out more about it here.
Team AEW was victorious over The Elite on this week’s edition of Dynamite in a brutal Blood and Guts match that left the heels with no choice but to forfeit.
Jack Perry and Darby Allin started the match for their respective teams and the TNT Champion maintained the advantage over Allin with a trash can and extension cord.
Jack Perry sends Darby Allin flying like a lawn dart!
Nick Jackson was the next arrival, giving the Elite a distinct advantage, and ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe was the first wrestler to bleed significantly after having his face scraped across the cage.
The #ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe has arrived to even the odds for #TeamAEW!
Matt Jackson was out next to join his brother but Anthony Bowens would change the complexion of the match. Bowens used scissors and stabbed Perry in the head, earning “You Sick F***” chants from the crowd.
The Scissor King, Anthony Bowens is here to reinforce #TeamAEW!
Kazuchika Okada, wielding a ‘Rainmaker’ street sign was next to enter the cage and Max Caster followed with a microphone and he retrieved a barbed-wire board from under the ring. This came back to haunt The Acclaimed as the Young Bucks sent Bowens into it, prompting “Holy S***” chants from the crowd.
In case things weren’t already violent enough, thumbtacks were introduced next and poured into Caster’s mouth. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page was supposed to arrive next but didn’t. Instead, the Cowboy waited for Swerve Strickland’s entrance so he could ambush the reigning AEW World Champion.
Hangman Adam Page only has his eyes on #AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland and now #AEWBLOODandGUTS begins!
Swerve was left locked out of the cage and Page, under the threat of being fired, got in the cage as demanded by Nick Jackson. Jeff Jarrett would help free Strickland’s trapped hand, allowing him to enter the cage.
Swerve and Hangman finally get their hands on each other!
Staple Guns were introduced via a briefcase that the Bucks had brought to the match. Despite this, Team AEW fought on with Darby Allin delivering a Coffin Drop to Jack Perry.
The finish of the match also involved Allin and Perry as the TNT Champion was handcuffed to the wall and took some kendo shots but refused to quit. Mark Briscoe followed with a chair shot to the head of Perry, but that still wasn’t enough. Allin then retrieved a gasoline can and threatened to see Perry ablaze. Fearing the loss of life of his ally, Matt Jackson gave in, awarding Allin a TNT title match at All In, and forfeiting Blood & Guts.
Darby Allin wants his TNT Championship Match at #AEWAllIn and will set Jack Perry ON FIRE to get it!
This year’s Blood & Guts certainly delivered the violence that fans have come to expect with the brutal stipulation. After months of having control, the Elite’s loss is a huge setback for the group, and could be a sign of things to come next month in Wembley Stadium.
Leo Burke, a Stampede Wrestling staple, has passed away. Burke, real name Léonce Cormie, who also wrestled under the name Tommy Martin was 76. Details behind his passing are currently unknown.
Burke was born in New Brunswick, Canada and competed under the NWA affiliate up north known as Central States Wrestling, teaming with his brother Romeo before later joining up with Stu Hart’s Stampede promotion in Calgary. While there, he won the promotion’s Tag Team Titles and also became a notable singles wrestler, winning Stampede’s North American Championship on several occassions. While there, he caught the eye of a young Bret Hart who in his Hitman autobiography, said he resembled late actor Burt Reynolds.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer was the first to report the news, also adding further context to Burke’s legacy left in the squared circle.
“Very sad to report the death of Leo Burke/Tommy Martin of the famous Cormier family of New Brunswick at the age of 76. He was a major star in Eastern Canada and an eight-time North American champion with Stampede Wrestling. Very well respected in the ring. Bret Hart considered him one of the best.”
Very sad to report the death of Leo Burke/Tommy Martin of the famous Cormier family of New Brunswick at the age of 76. He was a major star in Eastern Canada and an eight-time North American champion with Stampede Wrestling. Very well respected in the ring. Bret Hart considered…
Wrestling trainer and veteran Rip Rogers also took time to pay tribute to Burke, noting of his star power in Canada.
“Just heard my friend Leo Burke passed away.. he was a legend in the Maritimes .. I wrestled him in Calgary for Stu Hart and all over the Maritimes in summers of 88, 90, 97 ., Pr in 89,.. his brothers Rudy Kay , Bobby Kay , and the Beast proceeded him in death ..”
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry also credits learning a lot from Leo Burke as he began honing his skills as a wrestler.
We at SEScoops would like to extend our prayers, thoughts and condolences to Leo Burke, his friends and family at this time.
MJF will put the AEW International Championship on the line in a rematch against Will Ospreay at All In.
All Elite Wrestling’s upcoming pay-per-view event, All In, is starting to take shape. The show will occur at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on August 25. While the match card is still being finalized, AEW has revealed that AEW International Champion MJF will defend his title in a rematch against Will Ospreay at the PPV.
On the July 17 episode of Dynamite, MJF defeated Ospreay for the title in a nearly sixty-minute match. The finish came when “The Devil” used an object to hit Ospreay in the face to win.
In celebration of his championship win, MJF opened the July 24 episode of Dynamite to boast to the Nashville, Tennesse crowd in attendance. He talked down to the fans for being unpatriotic and that they only liked his championship because it was held by international talent.
In an interesting turn of events, “The Devil” threw the AEW International Championship in the trash. Afterward, he unveiled his new AEW American Championship, which he plans to use moving forward.
Ospreay had enough of MJF and came to the ring to confront him before the “Heel” escaped with his new title. “The Aerial Assassin” would share he spoke with AEW President Tony Khan and interim AEW Executive Vice President Christopher Daniels to get a rematch with the championship on the line at All In.
What Is Next For PAC?
AEW’s decision to have the rematch occur at the upcoming PPV is interesting, as PAC earned the opportunity to challenge for the title. The high-flying superstar defeated Claudio Castagnoli, Kyle Fletcher, and Tomohiro Ishii in a Fatal Four Way match to become the number one contender on the July 10 episode of Dynamite.
After the match, PAC declared that he would win the AEW International Championship and have his moment at All In. It’s worth noting that Khan shared on X before the Fatal Four Way match that the winner would get a future opportunity for the title. The rematch announcement currently puts his involvement in the PPV in uncertainty.
Updated AEW All In Match Card
AEW World Championship: (C) Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson
AEW Women’s Championship: (C) Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
AEW International Championship: (C) MJF vs. Will Ospreay
