Home Blog Page 240

Kamille Debuts In AEW, Attacks Britt Baker

Dominic DeAngelo
-
0

Kamille has finally showed up in AEW and she has first set her sights on Britt Baker. The former NWA Women’s Worlds Champion has been patiently waiting to make her pro wrestling return at some point, with heavy speculation that she did sign with AEW and she confirmed that on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite.

Britt Baker had a back and forth battle with an old AEW rival in Hikaru Shida and she got the former AEW Women’s Champion to tap via the Lockjaw. As Baker was celebrating, Mercedes Mone sauntered down the ramp. As Baker focused on Mone, she was caught off guard by the big boot of Kamille, who leveled the D.M.D. It was all part of the plan for Mone as it appears that Kamille will be the enforcer for “The C.E.O.”

Kamille certainly passes the classic ‘airport test’ of pro wrestling as she certainly turns heads with her physique and size. The vibe of Kamille very much reflects that of Jade Cargill, one of AEW’s original stars who now calls WWE home.

While Cargill has a great deal of TV time, Kamille has a historic NWA Women’s Worlds Championship run as she had the gold for an impressive 813 days before dropping it to Kenzie Paige.

Kamille has been a free agent in the world of pro wrestling since January so she hasn’t been a television presence for over six months. Kamille adds to a growing AEW Women’s division as she joins rising stars such as Willow Nightingale and Mariah May, but also a good deal of veteran talent on the roster as well.

RELATED: Kamille Reacts To NWA Women’s Title Loss At NWA 75

NBA Opts for $1.8 Billion Amazon Prime Video Bid Over Warner Bros. Discovery

Michael Reichlin
-
0

In a significant shift in sports broadcasting, the NBA has chosen Amazon Prime Video over Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) for its long-term media rights deal. Despite WBD’s attempt to match Amazon’s impressive $1.8 billion per year offer, the NBA selected Amazon to help maximize the reach and accessibility of its games.

An official statement from the NBA reads, “Warner Bros. Discovery’s most recent proposal did not match the terms of Amazon Prime Video’s offer and, therefore, we have entered into a long-term arrangement with Amazon.”

The NBA’s new arrangement with Amazon is designed to enhance the fan experience by complementing the existing broadcast, cable, and streaming packages under Disney and NBCUniversal arrangements. The league emphasized that all three partners have committed substantial resources to promote the NBA and improve fan engagement.

Expressing gratitude towards their previous partner, the NBA stated, “We are grateful to Turner Sports for its award-winning coverage of the NBA and look forward to another season of the NBA on TNT.”

GTR3H8jaYAY3eOD

What This Means For AEW

This move has broader implications beyond the NBA. Warner Bros. Discovery, which is also the media rights partner for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), is in the late stages of negotiating a new deal with the wrestling promotion. With the NBA deal off the table, WBD frees up substantial resources, which could be advantageous for AEW and the terms of their next media rights deal. Stay tuned to SEScoops for further updates on AEW’s next TV deal.

MJF Reacts To ‘Terrorist’ Girl Attacking Him on Dynamite

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

MJF says he’s exasperated at the amount of attention “terrorists” receive in society, and referenced the 7-year old girl who slapped him last week on AEW Dynamite to make his point. During his 60-minute match against Will Ospreay, the action spilled into the crowd, the young fan slapped MJF’s chest. The former AEW World champion and new International Champion appeared on the Casual Conversations podcast and everal days after the incident, he clearly hasn’t moved on.

“She’s a terrorist. Let’s talk about it. I think we need to talk about this immediately. So here’s the deal. I’m wrestling a match, and I think we’re like three minutes in at this point. I’m just about to beat Will in a matter of seconds, and this guy, because he’s scared of me, he hops over the guard rail. He tries to leave the arena. Wild stuff, right?

I couldn’t believe it. So now, to protect the integrity of our sport, I’m chasing after this guy. What a wuss. But I care about our company, right? So now, let me catch up to this guy so we can continue on with this matchup. When I got a hold of him, I’m beating him up, I mean with ease in this crowd, but it was a pretty hostile environment.

Then, out of nowhere, a girl pulls a gun out. I don’t know if you can see the gun when you watch the match back, but she had me at gunpoint and then proceeded to strike me in the chest repeatedly.”

AEW was celebrating the milestone of 250 episodes for Dynamite during the July 17, 2024 episode of their weekly episodic series. As such, the company had loaded the card with many PPV-quality matches.

One such match on the card featured The Salt of The Earth challenging Will Ospreay for the International Championship in a hard hitting affair. The bout went on for almost an hour, with both the stars working hard to give fans many unforgettable moments during their encounter.

The most memorable spot of the night however was something that neither of them could have planned in advance. The action was taken outside the ring at one point in the match and both the stars continued to fight in the middle of the crowd. During this time, Ospreay prompted a little girl who was in attendance to take part in the bout and she went on to hit MJF in the chest.

The moment went viral on the internet after MJF flipped the girl. After the show, Ospreay gifted the young fan a shirt and she was also featured on a local news channel in Arkansas. Despite the brutal attack, the 28-year-old still came out victorious and he defeated Ospreay in the match to win the AEW International title.

MJF on Abortion

MJF later discussed the fan being interviewed by a local news channel and said this is why abortion cannot be outlawed.

“Why would you give such a violent person a platform like that? It’s horrible. Little girls like that is a reminder of why abortion is necessary. I don’t care what your political affiliations are. I think people should be able to abort for at least the first 1000 months of a pregnancy term.”

MJF claimed that he didn’t feel any of the strikes from the girl. Giving an explanation for flipping off the young fan, the Salt of The Earth said that you have to stand up to bullies:

“Now I didn’t feel any of the strikes because I’m jacked. I mean, I have a chest the size of a Dodge Ram truck. So she stops, she puts the gun away. Even though I knew she had the gun on her, I wasn’t fearing for my life at this point because you know, you gotta stand up to bullies no matter what the situation is.

So I flip her off, rightfully so in my opinion, as I think anybody else would. Then Osprey sneak attacks me from behind when all I’m trying to do is react to this vicious terrorist. And proceeded to sneak attack me while we were inside the crowd. Luckily, I stopped him, I threw him in the ring, I gave him a great right-hand punch, and that was all she rode.”

CM Punk Reportedly Looking To Restructure WWE Deal

Dominic DeAngelo
-
0

CM Punk is enjoying his current WWE run so much that’s already thinking beyond the length of his current 3-year deal. According to respected wrestling journalist and podcaster Ibou of WrestlePurists, Punk is looking to restructure and extend his deal.

“I can tell you right now that he is in the process of trying to get his deal restructured from a money and years standpoint. Punk’s legitimate stance right now is if all goes well I will never leave. That’s his legitimate standpoint. He wants to be here ‘forever,’ is the actual word he used.”

Ibou, WrestlePurists, 7/22 WWE Raw Youtube Review

What does CM Punk Want?

Punk is gearing up to return from injury and wrestle his first match since Jauary next weekend at WWE SummerSlam. According to sources close to Punk, he’s interested in spending the latter years of his pro wrestling career giving back to the next generations.

” Basically, he wants this to work out, he wants to get paid, and then he wants, when it’s time to slow it down, to slow it down and just run NXT.”

Ibou, WrestlePurists, 7/22 WWE Raw Youtube Review

Despite his injury at WWE Royal Rumble, Punk has been a bonafide team player while healing from a torn triceps. He’s still managed to appear on WWE television, but has also found some solace in helping out down in NXT. Additionally he’s found some pre-show chemistry with Big E during big WWE kick-off shows.

However, Punk’s absence from the ring is soon to come to an end as just this past Monday on WWE Raw, Punk revealed that he’s medically cleared to wrestle and will face Drew McInytre at SummerSlam with Seth Rollins as the special guest referee.

Punk is not on the best of terms with Rollins after he cost Seth his WWE World Title chances against Damian Priest at Money In The Bank. That story will continue on as Rollins will lay out the ground rules next week to both Punk and McIntyre, who aren’t allowed to lay a hand on one another until SummerSlam.

You can follow Ibou on X and we recommend checking out the WrestlePurists YouTube channel for more great wrestling content.

MJF: CM Punk Was A Mentor For Me Through Hate

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

MJF has some choice words to describe his mentor CM Punk.

The current AEW International Champion’s rivalry with the Straight Edge Star remains one of the most memorable feuds in the history of Tony Khan’s promotion to date.

Due to the abrupt end of Punk’s AEW run, the Salt of The Earth never got a proper closure on their feud. He still seems to have learned a lot from the wrestling veteran, to the point where he considers Punk a mentor of his.

The former world champion recently had an interview with Casual Conversations podcast. During a segment on the show, he was asked to describe certain superstars.

The name of Cody Rhodes came up first, who MJF described as a mentor. When asked about CM Punk, the scumbag explained that he was also a mentor, but in a completely opposite way:

“I think I would use the word mentor through hate. So I was mentored by probably two of the most intelligent guys in the business. One was through love and one was through hate.”

– MJF via Casual Conversations

The History of MJF and CM Punk

MJF started a feud with CM Punk in late 2021, only a few months after Punk’s debut for the company in August. They first encountered each other as opponents in a six-man tag team match at the December 22, 2021 episode of Dynamite.

The two would continue this rivalry for the next few months, leading to some of the most entertaining and memorable promo battles in the history of pro wrestling.

They had two singles matches during this rivalry. MJF won the first one at the February 2, 2022 episode of Dynamite with help from Wardlow. CM Punk would then get his win back at the 2022 Revolution PPV on March 6, when Wardlow turned on Maxwell.

Punk would move on a world title feud with the then-champion Adam Page after this, leading to him winning the AEW title at Double or Nothing in May. He was forced to take a hiatus from the company only 5 days after due to a foot injury.

The rest of Punk’s AEW run was bogged down by injuries and backstage drama. As a result, MJF would never get the chance to renew this rivalry before the former AEW star’s departure in September 2023.

AEW Dynamite Preview (7/24): Blood and Guts 2024

Tyriece Simon
-
0

All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynamite: Blood and Guts tonight live on TBS from the Bridgestone Arena. (Get Tickets). This is historically one of AEW’s best shows of the year, and Blood and Guts is a big-time stipulation match. Here’s a preview of the matches and segments confirmed for tonight:

Blood and Guts: Team Elite vs. Team AEW

  • Team Elite: Adam Page, Kazuchika Okada, Matthew & Nicholas Jackson and Jack Perry
  • Team AEW: Swerve Strickland, Darby Allin, Mark Brisco and The Acclaimed

The Young Bucks come into the match with the most experience after winning a Blood & Guts match last year. They’ll try to use their knowledge to help give their team the victory and remain the dominant faction in AEW.

Blood & Guts Rules

Blood and Guts is AEW’s take on the classic ‘WarGames’ match created by Dusty Rhodes in the 1980’s. This ‘match beyond’ involves two teams of 5 wrestlers fighting inside a roofed cell structure surrounding two rings. Two men begin, there are staggered entrances and a winner cannot be decided until all participants have entered. The match can only end by pinfall or submission – there’s no disqualifications, no count-outs and no escape.

Official AEW Blood and Guts 2024 Poster

AEW Blood and Guts Poster
AEW’s graphic design team delivers once again for this incredible AEW Blood & Guts 2024 poster

FTW Championship Match: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Minoru Suzuki

Chris Jericho puts his title on the line for the third time against New Japan Pro Wrestling legend Minoru Suzuki. The match was made official last week with the added stipulation that other members of the Learning Tree(Big Bill & Bryan Keith) would be banned from ringside.

Dr. Britt Baker, DMD vs. Hikaru Shida

Dr. Britt Baker, DMD, makes her return to in-ring competition against former rival Hikaru Shida. It will mark the former AEW Women’s World Champion’s first match in over ten months.

The Debut of “The Glamour” Mariah May

Mariah May will reintroduce herself in AEW under the moniker “The Glamour.” The episode is being advertised as her debut, so she’ll be in action against an opponent who will be revealed during the show.

Keep it locked to SEScoops for more coverage of AEW Blood and Guts and head over to our AEW News section for more.

AEW Dynamite Blood and Guts Card 2024
AEW Blood and Guts 2024 is here!

What Happened Last Week?

Last week’s Dynamite saw MJF and Will Opsreay deliver a 60-minute match-of-the-year contender for the AEW International Championship, Mercedes Moné in action against Nyla Rose, an appearance by ‘Timeless’ Mariah May and more here:

Watch: AEW Dynamite 250 Highlights: July 17, 2024

Latest On Buddy Matthews’ AEW Contract Amid Ongoing TV Hiatus

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Wrestling fans can expect to see plenty more of Buddy Matthews in AEW, even though he’s not currently appearing on programming. Matthews has reached a new contract with AEW, WrestlePurists reports. The Australian debuted in AEW in February 2022, eight months after his release from WWE in May 2021. Since arriving, Matthews has been part of the House of Black since his arrival and alongside Malakai Black and Brody King, is a former AEW World Trios Champion.

Matthews sticking with AEW will keep him separate from his wife Rhea Ripley who recently returned to WWE RAW programming and will compete at SummerSlam next month. The couple got engaged in August 2023 and tied the knot in April of this year. Despite being in different companies, the couple’s relationship is as strong as ever, and Ripley was spotted backstage at Double or Nothing 2024.

Malakai Black’s Contract Status

Matthews’ ally Malakai Black is another talent fans should expect to see in AEW for a long time to come. In July 2022, AEW President Tony Khan told Busted Open Radio that Black had “almost five years” left on his contract, which would put his expiration date at mid-2027.

Securing contracts is one of the most vital roles for those working behind the scenes in a wrestling company as promotions seek to lock down the best wrestlers working today. Although Black isn’t currently appearing for AEW after being written off TV in June, expect the Australian to bring the fight when he returns to programming.

TNA Wrestling Expands Media Partnership With WBD’s Eurosport India

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Anthem Entertainment, the parent company of TNA, has expanded its partnership with Eurosport India, a premium sports channel owned by Warner Bros Discovery. Under the new agreement, Eurosport India viewers will gain access to over 200 hours of original TNA programming every year. This wealth of programming includes TNA iMPACT and pay-per-views.

Earlier this year, Eurosport agreed to carry eight new TNA+ Presents specials as well as new episodes of the Hindi-language series Pehlwani Patakha. Viewers will also be able to access the extensive library from TNA’s over two decades of content.

Ruchir Jain, Head of Distribution and Sports, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery, was delighted at the partnership extension:

“Pro-Wrestling has been an integral part of childhood in India, creating a nostalgic connection for many. Cultivating this connection has been key to the growth of Eurosport’s passionate fan base. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering top-tier sports entertainment.”

Warner Bros Discovery has been broadcasting TNA programming in the region since 2020 and is the #2 data-supported genre brand in India with over 2.5 million Facebook followers in the country.

TNA has made serious strides in 2024 with the recent Slammiversary event reportedly being the company’s highest gate for an event for a decade. India is a massive market that wrestling companies, including WWE, has tried to get a foothold to mixed levels of success. With this extension in an era where media rights deals are a primary revenue source, TNA continues to prove that the impact it is making isn’t just contained to viewers in North America.

Joe Hendry Gifted Signed Flyers To NXT Fans

Bishal Roy
-
0

TNA Wrestling star Joe Hendry is set to have a live concert at next week’s NXT: Great American Bash and WWE is firing on all cylinders to promote it.

Hendry has gained massive popularity over the years and he has brought the same energy to the gold brand. It has been announced that he will be back in NXT on the first night of the Great American Bash next week. Last night, a video package aired that highlighted Hendry’s popularity and his decorated career. Hendry then announced that he will be performing a live concert on the show.

NXT fans are quite excited with the announcement and they were surprised by what transpired after the show. It has come to light that several fans received flyers on their cars that promoted his upcoming performance. NXT Universe also found that the posters had Hendry’s autograph on them.

Hendry made his surprise debut in NXT last month as part of the working relationship between TNA and NXT. Earlier this month, he was revealed as the tag team partner of Trick Williams and they defeated Ethan Page and Shawn Spears. Last week on commentary, Hendry revealed that he will be making regular appearances on the brand. Hendry’s music videos are also popular among the fans and his entrance music even topped the iTunes charts earlier this year.

Joe Hendry: Everything You Need To Know About the TNA and NXT Star

Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo Are Training For Return To Action

Bishal Roy
-
0

AEW star Sammy Guevara recently revealed that he and his wife, Tay Melo are training to make their comeback.

Taking to his X account, Sammy Guevara praised his wife. He also informed fans that he and Tay Melo are training for their impending returns. It was last year in November that the couple was blessed with a baby girl and Guevara has revealed that Tay has been working hard while also being a great mom and wife. Here is what he wrote:

“Just wanna say this mama right here is doing such a great job.

We are both training for our comebacks and I wish yall could see how much work she puts in. Some days are harder than others but she has been killing it, all while being a great mom and wife!

She doesn’t give herself the credit so just wanna say you are doing great mama & we all can’t wait for your return”

Sammy Guevara was suspended from AEW

The former TNT Champion has been away from the promotion for quite some time after being suspended. During the February 16 edition of AEW Rampage, Jeff Hardy suffered a broken nose during a No DQ match with Sammy Guevara. It was also noted that during the match, Hardy also suffered a concussion. However, Guevara didn’t follow the concussion protocol, and ‘The Spanish God’ performed his finisher.

His last match took place the following week when he endured a loss against Powerhouse Hobbs on AEW Collision before getting suspended by AEW. Meanwhile, Tay has not competed in the ring since March earlier this year.

Fans Invited To Watch WWE SummerSlam Tryouts In Historic First

Thomas Lowson
-
0

WWE will continue its search for new talent with tryouts over SummerSlam weekend, and for the first time ever, fans will be able to watch the potential stars of tomorrow. On Twitter, Shawn Michaels, WWE SVP of Talent Development, shared that fans will be able to watch the tryouts via the WWE Priority Pass. Holders of the past will also be able to participate in a meet and greet with Tiffany Stratton and Jey Uso, and will participate in a Q&A with Michaels himself.

WWE has hosted several tryouts over the years in its effort to fill the company’s roster with the best athletes in the world. In 2021, WWE held tryouts over SummerSlam weekend in Las Vegas. Several notable names were recruited following these tryouts including Nikkita Lyons, Tatum Paxley, Edris Enofe, Javier Bernal, and Monday Night Raw’s Maxxine Dupri.

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.

Tony Khan: I Hope Bryan Danielson Will Stay With AEW For The Rest of His Life

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Tony Khan is hoping that Bryan Danielson will stay with AEW long after he has retired from active competition so that the company can continue benefitting from his knowledge.

The American Dragon has confirmed that his current AEW deal will be his last full-time contract and he will be moving to a part time schedule after it expires.

During a recent interview with The Rich Eisen Show, the AEW President was asked if he takes advice from some of the wrestling veterans that are part of the company’s locker room when he is not sure about a story.

Khan replied positively to the question and he specifically mentioned Bryan Danielson as someone who he loves to talk to:

“I can’t say how much time Bryan has left in the ring but he has said this will be his final year and this is going to be the year Bryan hangs it up from full-time wrestling.

At that point it’s going to be a sad day for pro wrestling and for me personally but it’s great to be able to have Bryan that I can call and talk to or have in the locker room with us every week.”

As Long As Humanly Possible: Tony Khan

Tony Khan was then asked about Bryan’s commitment to move to a part time schedule and whether he would like Danielson to continue his association with AEW. Replying to it, TK said that he hopes the wrestling legend will be part of AEW in some capacity for the rest of his life:

“Absolutely. 100% I hope Bryan will stay here for the rest of his life and I know he’s planning to stay with us for a long time going forward as part of the company hopefully. I would want Bryan to stay with us as long as humanly possible.”

Bryan Danielson has been featured prominently on AEW TV in his final year as a full-time performer. He recently won the Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament. The former champion is now set to challenge Swerve Strickland for the AEW title at All In 2024 event from Wembley stadium in London on August 25.

Apart from this, Tony Khan also talked about the origin of AEW and claimed that he had set plans in motion to launch the company before the 2018 All In event. You can check out his comments here.

Titus O’Neil Rescues 2 Abandoned Pit Bulls While Donating School Supplies

Thomas Lowson
-
0

WWE’s Titus O’Neil is giving two pit bulls a second chance after they were abandoned near a middle school in Tampa, Florida. O’Neil and volunteers were at Sligh Middle School donating various school supplies when they found the two dogs, a statement from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay shared. O’Neil contacted the HSTB, a group he is a longtime supporter of and they agreed to take the dogs and help them find homes.

The two pit bulls, now named Biggie and Betha, are believed to have been part of a dog fighting ring, Sherry Silk, executive director of HSTB, told FOX 13 News. That’s because their ears have been clipped, a common experience for fighting dogs as it prevents other dogs from latching onto them.

Silk added that Bertha appears to have had puppies, which she believes may have been why she and Biggie were dumped. This is unfortunately a common occurrence that Silk called “awful.” Biggie and Betha have also been dealing with ear infections but have since found a space of their own inside the shelter.

Biggie and Bertha have been through an awful experience but thanks to Titus, the HSTB and other volunteers, they will hopefully have a new forever home very soon. Once again, the WWE Hall of Fame Warrior Award recipient has shown his immense kindness, as he continues to be an ambassador for WWE and a role model to all.

Related: Titus O’Neil Donates More Than $100,000 To Tampa Bay Charity

Tony Khan Had Started Planning Launch of AEW Months Before All In

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Tony Khan has revealed that plans for the creation of AEW had been in motion since before the 2018 All In event.

The inaugural All In event held on September 1, 2018, is widely considered to be the precursor of All Elite Wrestling. The success of the event is what many believe led to Tony Khan deciding to start his own promotion.

The exact timeline of events, however, has been a matter of debate recently. Multiple different accounts of the sequence in which the key people were made aware of the project and brought into the fold has been shared online.

During a recent interview on, The Rich Eisen Show, Tony Khan was asked about the belief that All In led to the formation of his company. The AEW President explained that the narrative is not true and he had first shared the idea with former TNT President Kevin Riley months before All In:

“I had started working about five months before that in April of that year I guess so you know I guess it would be like four and a half months earlier with a friend of mine who was the president of TBS and TNT Kevin Riley.

I ran into him at a party and brought up to him that I thought it would make a lot of sense to bring pro wrestling back to TBS and TNT and he was interested. Then I started working on it and well before like almost two months before All In I was actually talking to the Young Bucks.”

Tony Khan’s Timeline of AEW

Tony Khan later revealed the date of his first serious discussion with Mattew Jackson and his wife Dana Massie, which in turn led to him making acquaintances of the rest of The Elite and Chris Jericho:

“On July 3 which would be almost two months before the show I had a really long call with Matt and his wife Dana and we had a really nice talk. That led to me starting to talk to the Young Bucks.

Then I started having conversations with Chris Jericho through his agent. Not long after that right around the same time and actually I think I might have like within a week or so give or take had a dinner then and followed up on that.

So I was talking to Chris Jericho and the Young Bucks and then through the Young Bucks also to Cody Rhodes and Hangman and a number of other great wrestlers. Kenny Omega was going to be available from New Japan not long after that. So I was actually before All In.”

The AEW executive also mentioned how he was in attendance for the 2018 All In event, though according to Khan, he was there only as a spectator.

SEScoops had originally broke the story of a new wrestling promotion backed by the Khan family being in the works in late 2018. The company officially launched at the start of 2019.

Ronda Rousey ‘Encouraged’ By Progress Of Women In Combat Sports

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Ronda Rousey believes women’s wrestling in WWE is taking steps forward again now that Vince McMahon is no longer in charge of bookings.

The former WWE star recently had an interview with TV Insider to promote her new graphic novel ‘Expecting the Unexpected.’ The Kickstarter campaign for the novel is set to be launched on July 25.

Rousey, who is considered a trailblazer for women’s combat sports across the board was asked for her thoughts the current state of female performers in WWE, UFC and beyond. The former Raw Women’s Champion mentioned how women are being taken more seriously now:

“I think women in combat sports everywhere are succeeding more than ever before because people are taking them seriously. I think that being able to prove that women can fight and be exciting and dynamic. There has been this ripple effect on boxing, UFC, pro wrestling, and even Olympic wrestling.”

We Are Taking Steps Forward Again: Ronda Rousey

Speaking specifically about the world of pro wrestling and WWE, Ronda Rousey explained that things have gotten better since Vince McMahon was forced out of WWE:

“There was a point after we had the main event of WrestleMania that I feel like WWE took several steps back, but now that Vince McMahon is gone and Triple H is at the helm, I feel we are taking steps forward again. I’m extremely encouraged by what is happening across the entire industry.”

Vince McMahon had to resign from his post on the TKO board in January this year after former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit accusing him of sex trafficking among other things.

The Department of Justice has since launched their own investigation of the matter. On May 30, it was revealed that Grant had agreed to stay her case for 6 months at their request.

Ronda Rousey also recently talked about the potential of a UFC return somewhere down the line. You can check out what she said here.

Roxanne Perez Hopeful CM Punk Will Help Make Match With AJ Lee Happen

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Fans of AJ Lee could see her back in the ring in the future, if Roxanne Perez and Lee’s husband CM Punk have anything to say about it. It’s been over nine years since the former WWE Divas Champion competed in WWE, with her final match being on the post-WrestleMania 31 RAW in 2015.

With the return of CM Punk last November, fans of Lee have been hopeful she too will make a comeback to the squared circle. Speaking to Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Perez shared that both she and Punk are pulling for a return to happen (h/t POST Wrestling.)

“I try (to talk to CM Punk about convincing A.J. Lee to return) but he tells me that he’s doing the same thing. He’s trying to get her to come back, he’s pulling her in but, I hope one day she decides to come back and have a match with me.”

Perez said in April of this year that she can’t retire from wrestling until she’s had her dream match with AJ. At just 22 years old, the two-time and reigning NXT Women’s Champion has plenty of time left in the ring for the dream match to happen.

In April, a rumor went around that WWE was actively working on recruiting AJ but that she wanted a memorable return rather than a one-off appearance. We later confirmed that this rumor was not true, and while she is well-liked and respected in WWE, her return was not a topic of discussion. At the WWE Money in the Bank post-show event, CM Punk also downplayed the idea of his wife’s return, saying he didn’t want to give fans false hope and is proud of AJ for “doing her own thing.”

If AJ Lee returns to WWE, there’ll be no shortage of delighted fans. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from the world of WWE and beyond.

Joe Hendry’s NXT Return Set For 7/30 Great American Bash: Night One

Thomas Lowson
-
0

TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry will be back in WWE NXT as part of the first night of the Great American Bash special next week. On the July 23, episode of the gold brand, a vignette aired highlighting Hendry’s popularity and his career in wrestling so far. Hendry ended by revealing that he will perform a live concert next week on the show.

Joe Hendry’s Concert

Hendry has hosted several concerts in WWE, typically targeting a wrestler he’s feuding with, such as AJ Francis. When not performing in the ring, Hendry’s music videos have proven a hit with fans, and his entrance theme reached #1 on the iTunes charts earlier this year.

WWE NXT Great American Bash

Hendry’s concert will be just one highlight of next week’s first night of the Great American Bash. The July 30, show will also see NXT Heritage Cup Champion Tony D’Angelo defend against Taivon Heights. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez will defend against Thea Hail as the Prodigy looks to keep her reign alive and well.

NXT Champion Ethan Page and Oro Mensah will have a contract signing for their title match that will take place on the August 6, show. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles will be on the line next week as Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn will defend against Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend.

Related: Joe Hendry Says Success of Viral Theme Is “A Series of Fortunate Events”

MJF Calls Will Ospreay “A ‘F***ing Gymnast'”

Dominic DeAngelo
-
0

MJF believes he’s the true blue ‘Nature Boy’ while he thinks Will Ospreay watches too much tape of Simone Biles.

MJF just defeated Ospreay in a near 60-minute marathon to kick off last week’s episode of AEW Dynamite to become the new AEW International Champion and Maxwell Jacob Friedman is relishing every single minute of it.

In a new interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, MJF had some harsh words for his recent opponent all while putting over his own athletic efforts.

“I’m on the Stairmaster every day for two hours. That’s the difference between me and Will Ospreay. I’m a real athlete. He’s a f—— gymnast.”

RELATED: Will Ospreay Gifted 7-Year-Old Fan Who ‘Attacked’ MJF At AEW Dynamite 250

MJF was far from done as ‘The Scumbag’ also caught wind of Ric Flair’s praise. The two-time WWE Hall Of Famer happened to put a side-by-side photo of him and MJF hoisting up freshly won hardware. Max tipped the cap to ‘The Nature Boy’ but in natural heel form, put himself over at the same time.

“There’s a reason that after my match, Ric Flair posted a side-by-side comparison photo. I’m Ric Flair incarnated–and with all due respect to Ric, better.”

MJF certainly pulled from the page of ‘The Dirtiest Player In The Game’ in how he defeated Ospreay on Wednesday. Will’s conscience got the better of him nearing the end of the bout as he hesitated to hit his self-banned Tiger Driver and MJF took advantage, hitting him with the Dynamite Diamond Ring. We’ll more than likely hear from both stars this week on a stacked episode of AEW Dynamite that features a big Blood & Guts bout.

RELATED: MJF Heading to CMLL After “Easiest Match of My Life” with Will Ospreay

Pat McAfee Co-Host Slams WWE 2K24 Fans & NXT Wrestlers

Tyriece Simon
-
0

Pat McAfee’s sports TV show co-host Ty Schmit has taken a dig at WWE 2K24 fans and NXT wrestlers.

WWE 2K24’s upcoming downloadable content, the Pat McAfee Show Pack, has continued to be poorly received before its release. The new update will hit digital stores on July 31 and is expected to be available for purchase for $9.99. The DLC will feature the former NFL Punter turned Monday Night Raw Commentator and his talk show co-hosts Ty Schmit, Boston Connor, AJ Hawk, and Darius Butler.

Although McAfee and his peers have been excited about their involvement with the game, wrestling video game fans haven’t been thrilled. The notable complaint is that WWE 2K24 has several featured stars from NXT, like Lola Vice or Sol Ruca, who weren’t in the game at launch and won’t be in the WWE 2K24 season pass. While the DLC presents an opportunity for McAfee and his co-hosts, fans have spoken out about feeling it was an unnecessary addition and could’ve been used to put more talent in the game.

McAfee finally responded to the negative feedback about the upcoming DLC on July 23 on X by calling out the internet wrestling community that criticized it. The reaction wasn’t well received, but he and his co-hosts decided to respond collectively to the criticism during the July 23 episode of The Pat McAfee Show.

Given his work in WWE, the Monday Night Raw Commentator admitted that he was flustered by the unenthusiastic reactions to the DLC. He also noted that WWE 2K contacted them to be in the game and that he and his co-hosts didn’t take another talent spot that was supposed to be initially involved.

Ty Schmit Bashes WWE 2K24 Fans & NXT Roster

While McAfee explained why he felt the criticism was unwarranted, Schmit spoke harshly to video game fans and members of the NXT roster.

“…You know a lot of people are pissed, especially that D-Butch(Butler), Connor, myself, AJ are in it because they want some of these other losers that no one has ever heard of from NXT to be in the game. ‘Why are these guys not in the DLC pack?’ Well, it’s because no one wants to play with them, that’s why,” said Schmit. He added, “..At first, it was like, man, should I be upset that these people are pissed that we’re in the game? No, Absolutely not. F*ck them. That’s kind of where I stand.”

It’s worth noting that McAfee laughed about the remark and shared that he was going to clip Schmit’s comments, which he released on X. The group continued to express how WWE 2K24 fans were not as receptive to the DLC as they had hoped and referred to the critics as bums.

Schmitt’s and the rest of the crew’s comments will continue to add more fuel to the fire of why fans could be upset with their involvement in the game. However, they don’t seem to care and are excited to play as themselves in WWE 2K24 next week.

WWE 2K24 Patch 1.13 Details, Pat McAfee DLC Delayed

Michael Reichlin
-
0

2K has has announced the WWE 2K24 DLC pack featuring Pat McAfee that was scheduled to be released tomorrow has been delayed a week until July 31, 2024. Some are already calling it the worst DLC ever.

WWE 2K24 Patch 1.13

2K has announced the release of the latest update for WWE 2K24: Patch 1.13. This latest round of enhancements and bug fixes includes fixes for general gameplay stability, audio issues, online stability and more.

New Characters

WWE 2K24 has added “Elite” Hulk Hogan and “Elite” The Rock to the game as upcoming MyFACTION unlockable Persona Cards.

Elite Hulk Hogan in WWE 2K24
“Elite” Hulk Hogan in WWE 2K24
Elite The Rock in WWE 2K24
“Elite” The Rock in WWE 2K24

General

  • General Stability improvements
  • The correct city location will be displayed in the WrestleMania 40 arenas
  • The Trophy/Achievement “No Visiting Hours” will now unlock correctly

Audio

  • Addressed reported concerns of the SFX for steel steps not playing correctly under certain conditions

Gameplay

  • Addressed reported concerns of certain moves missing their target when performed
    Addressed reported concerns of weapons getting stuck when a reversal is performed on top of the ambulance

Characters

  • Addressed reported concerns of Superstars’ attributes going over the maximum

Online

  • Stability improvements

Universe

  • Addressed reported concerns of championship stats missing

WWE NXT Preview (7/23): 4 Matches

Michael Reichlin
-
0

Catch a new episode of WWE NXT tonight, July 23, at 8 PM ET on the USA Network. Tonight’s WWE NXT match card will include:

  • No Disqualification: Josh Briggs vs. Brooks Jensen
  • Singles Match: Eddy Thorpe vs. Lexis King
  • Singles Match: Ashante Adonis vs. Oro Mensah
  • Singles Match: Carlee Bright vs. Wren Sinclair
  • Interview: Sit-down interview with Thea Hall

Check back later for news and results from tonight’s show and head over to our NXT News section for more.

What Happened Last Week? (7/16)

Catch up on all the action from last week, featuring Ethan Page defending the NXT Title against Dante Chen, Oba Femi defending the North American Title against Duke Hudson, and more.

Next Week

Next week’s WWE NXT (7/30) kicks off the 2-week NXT Great American Bash 2024 special.

Wrestling Legends & AEW Action Announced For Chris Jericho Cruise 6

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Some of the biggest names in wrestling will be part of Chris Jericho’s ‘Six on the Beach’ Cruise which will set sail in January 2025. The ‘Six on the Beach’ cruise will take guests from Miami to Puerto Plata, DR from January 31 to February 4. Only a select few cabins remain and can be purchased from ChrisJerichoCruise.com.

Wrestling Guests

Like previous years, the cruise will feature some huge names from the world of wrestling. This year’s cruise will see three guests of honor: Scott Steiner, Jushin Thunder Liger, and Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler. The trio of WWE Hall of Famers will be joined by names including Bull Nakano, Al Snow, Koko B. Ware, Juventud Guerrera, and many more stars of yesterday and today. New TNA World ChampionNic Nemeth will serve as the cruise’s guest host while Ash By Elegance will be the guest cruise director.

AEW In Action

Guests will also get to see some of All Elite Wrestling’s finest compete as part of the four-night cruise. AEW first hosted events on Jericho’s first cruise in October 2018 and matches from the 2020 cruise were broadcast on the January 22, episode of AEW Dynamite.

Music, Comedy, and More

If wrestling isn’t for you, despite being on a cruise ran by a wrestling legend, then there will be other activities on next year’s voyage. Comedy shows will be posted by Anya Zova, Jay Washington, and AEW’s RJ City. For music fans, there will be performances by Fozzy, Great White, Downstait and many more bands. Live editions of the Talk is Jericho and Paranormal 60 podcast, will also take place.

image 3

Donovan Dijak Reveals His Focus For Post-WWE Run

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Donovan Dijak is enjoying the freedom he has found after leaving WWE and it doesn’t appear that he is in a rush to sign a new contract with any promotion.

The former WWE star recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet for his Insight podcast. He discussed things such as the original pitch for Retribution, whether he’s worried about burning bridges with WWE and more.

When asked what are his immediate plans after leaving the Endeavor-owned promotion last month when his contract expired, Dijak explained that after having no control on his career for so long, he’s leaning towards keeping all his options open:

“I am keeping my options open. There’s literally nothing in any direction that I’m leaning, because my professional life has been so directed for so long that having all these available options, and I’m not saying that everybody’s clamoring for me, but just the possibility of multiple scenarios is very exciting for me.”

Dijak Is Focused on Proving Himself

The former NXT star mentioned how he made his debut in 2013 and 7 out of his 10 active years have been spent in WWE. So now Donovan Dijak is excited to get back to the independent circuit:

“As of this moment, I’m just gung-ho on the independent circuit, because that’s what’s directly in front of me right now, and I’m very comfortable in that scenario because I’ve done it before.

I don’t know that there is a lot left to prove in ring per say, but there’s a ton left for me to prove – how do I wanna phrase this – as an entity. Does that make sense?”

Dijak has been in demand since his WWE exit and many promotions have already booked him for shows. He was also backstage at the Forbidden Door PPV but the wrestling star claims that he didn’t talk to or meet Tony Khan at the event.

SEScoops recently had the opportunity to talk to the popular star. He spoke candidly about things such as his relationship with CM Punk, his run in NXT, and more. You can check out our interview with Dijak below:

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

Gov. Whitmer On Hulk Hogan Endorsing Donald Trump – ‘I’m An Iron Sheik Fan’

Thomas Lowson
-
0

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has shared her support for the Iron Sheik after Hulk Hogan publicly endorsed Donald Trump for President. At the 2024 Republican National Convention, Hogan called Trump his “hero” and endorsed the 78-year-old to be a “real American.”

Appearing in Lansing, Michigan, Whitmer was asked for her thoughts on Hogan’s endorsement of Trump. She joked “This was the question I was hoping not to get asked tonight” and threw her support behind the Iron Sheik. While Whitmer spoke of Sheik being from Lansing, Michigan, this was the original Sheik Ed Farhat. The Iron Sheik, who passed away in June 2023, was born in Iran.

Hogan isn’t the only notable name in wrestling backing the former President. WWE Hall of Famer Glenn Jacobs is backing Trump as he has done for years. On Twitter, Jacobs, the Mayor of Knox County, TN, argued that Joe Biden was not fit to serve as President after the Democrat leader announced he would not seek re-election this November. Jacobs was at the RNC, as was Linda McMahon who delivered a speech before Hogan and Trump himself.

Whitmer has thrown her support behind Kamala Harris for the November election. The Vice President has been endorsed by several names so far, including President Biden.

Darby Allin Details Origin Of Infamous Sex Sent Me To ER Clip

Anutosh Bajpai
-
0

Darby Allin is known for many wild things but even the most hardcore of fans get surprised when they found out about one of his very early TV appearances.

Before he was a successful wrestler, Allin actually made an appearance on the Sex Sent Me To The ER reality series where he claimed to have been stung by some bees in the forest.

The infamous video still pops up on social media every now and then. During a recent interview with Battleground podcast, Allin was asked about it and he revealed how the whole thing came about.

The high-flying star revealed that he was in the film school at the time and found out about the show through a website:

“It’s so funny when people repost it as if I’m trying to hide it. It’s like, I’m the one who told in an interview years ago with Chris Van Vliet that I did that show and people [are like], ‘Wait, he did?’ I’m the one who told people, it’s funny, it’s hilarious.

It’s like ‘Oh breaking news’ because no one has a goddamn life anymore. The thing is, I was going to film school in Arizona, and I saw this, there’s website with all these reality shows. And I said, ‘Oh, Sex sent me to ER, that sounds funny. Let’s come up with a story.'”

Darby Allin Forged A Doctor’s Note

According to Darby Allin the whole thing was made up and he even forged a doctor’s note to prove its authenticity. The girl who was featured in the video alongside him was an aspiring actress:

“So I made up this fake story, forged a doctor’s note that had happened, because they actually asked, ‘Did it really happen? We need doctor’s notes.’ And I was like, ‘yeah.’

So I met the girl on Craigslist. She was an aspiring actress, and we came up with the story. The day that we shot is the first day I met her. Then we just got our story straight, and then went in and filmed it.”

The Whole Experience Was Fun

Darby Allin later revealed that the video resulted in a good pay day that was like a godsent to him during his struggling days because he was surviving on very little money:

“It was just funny because that’s back when I was in film school, and I had no money. Literally no shit. I was living off of $5 a week on food. It was horrible. It was so bad. I worked at the 99 cents store at the time. So when I was in the freezer where they keep all the food, I’d be like, eating the food secretly back there. I had no money.

I forgot exactly the numbers it was like $500 or maybe $800 to do this reality thing. They flew me down to California. I was like ‘This is awesome. I can afford to eat now.’ Yeah, the whole experience was fun. It’s just fun coming up with stories and messing around and having a good time.”

Apart from this, Darby Allin also talked about taking risks and doing extreme spots ahead of his Blood & Guts match this Wednesday. You can check out what he said here.

1...239240241...3,342Page 240 of 3,342