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WWE Bash in Berlin Main Event Leaked

Jake Skudder
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The WWE Bash in Berlin main event has been leaked ahead of time, with PWInsider confirming what will be going on last.

PWInsider confirmed that GUNTHER vs Randy Orton will be headlining the card, with CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre expected to be taking place smack bang in the middle.

WWE Bash In Berlin Matches

Here are all of the matches taking place at Bash in Berlin tonight from Germany, which you can watch back on demand on WWE Network and Peacock.

  • Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
  • World Heavyweight Championship: GUNTHER (c) vs. Randy Orton
  • Strap Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Mixed Tag Team Match: Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest vs. Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan
  • Women’s Tag Team Championships: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (c) vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill

Whether you’re at home or on the go, here’s how you can stream Bash in Berlin 2024 on different devices:

Streaming on Mobile Devices

WWE Network App (International viewers): Also available for iOS and Android. Ensure you have a stable internet connection for a smooth viewing experience.

Peacock App (U.S. viewers): Available for both iOS and Android devices. Simply download the app, sign in with your subscription details, and start streaming.

Cody Rhodes Beats Kevin Owens at WWE Bash in Berlin 2024

Jake Skudder
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0

Cody Rhodes successfully defended his WWE Championship against Kevin Owens at the Bash in Berlin event tonight.

This match was set up on SmackDown a few weeks ago at Cody’s request to “thank” Owens for helping him against The Bloodline at SummerSlam. Owens was hesitant initially, but he was won over by Rhodes to make this main event at the Bash.

After a fantastic back and forth match to open the show with Owens refusing to take cheap shots, Cody was able to take the win after blocking a Swanton Bomb and then hitting the Cross Rhodes to retain.

WWE Bash In Berlin Matches

Here are all of the matches taking place at Bash in Berlin tonight from Germany, which you can watch back on demand on WWE Network and Peacock.

  • Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. Kevin Owens
  • World Heavyweight Championship: GUNTHER (c) vs. Randy Orton
  • Strap Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
  • Mixed Tag Team Match: Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest vs. Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan
  • Women’s Tag Team Championships: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn (c) vs. Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill

Whether you’re at home or on the go, here’s how you can stream Bash in Berlin 2024 on different devices:

Streaming on Mobile Devices

WWE Network App (International viewers): Also available for iOS and Android. Ensure you have a stable internet connection for a smooth viewing experience.

Peacock App (U.S. viewers): Available for both iOS and Android devices. Simply download the app, sign in with your subscription details, and start streaming.

Updated: WrestleMania 2026 Location Not Locked In Yet

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

The location for WrestleMania 42 in 2026 has not been locked in just yet.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro got people talking when he stated that the biggest wrestling show of the year will be coming back to Philadelphia so soon, after hosting the PPV just this year.

In a Q&A video posted on X, Shapiro was asked if anything ‘cool’ was scheduled in Philadelphia for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

In the answer to the question, the Governor counted a number of big sporting events that were scheduled for the area, including the FIFA World Cup, Major League Baseball All-Star Game and WrestleMania.

This inclusion was surprising as WWE usually makes a big deal of any WrestleMania developments and fans would expect a big announcement if the location had indeed been decided.

WrestleMania 42 Location Not Locked In

PWInsider provided an update on the situation after the video went viral saying that WWE sources ‘across the board’ were pretty surprised by this claim as it was not something that had been discussed internally.

The site also claimed that a well-placed source who would be involved in such decision-making had expressed that a location for WrestleMania 42 had not been locked in as of Saturday morning.

Josh Shapiro has since taken down the original video, further suggesting that he might have been talking about some other event or WWE as a whole instead of the specific show.

The Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia hosted WrestleMania 40 with an attendance record of 120,239 across both nights. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas has been announced to host the 41th edition of the show on April 19 & 20 next year. 

Update: Manuel Bonder, Spokesman for Governor Shapiro issued a statement to Fightful Select confirming that the claim made in the video was a mistake:

“This statement was mistaken, and we apologize for the confusion amid all the incredible events Pennsylvania is excited to host in 2026. While WrestleMania won’t be here in ‘26, we look forward to continuing to work with WWE and wrestling fans all across our Commonwealth to bring more great events to PA in the future,”

In addition, WrestleVotes sources note that WWE supposedly decided on the location for WrestleMania 42 months ago but they’re not ready to make the announcement just yet:

Cody Rhodes Reacts To Brian Gewirtz’s Claims About His Expressions During Infamous Rock Segment

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Cody Rhodes has opened up about his mindset during the infamous segment with The Rock after his Royal Rumble 2024 victory.

The Undisputed WWE Champion recently had an interview with Inside The Ropes. He discussed things such as how his daughter motivates him to continue working hard, his AEW exit, and more.

When the topic of the build to WrestleMania 40 came up, Cody was asked about comments made by The Rock’s personal writer Brian Gewirtz about his infamous segment with The People’s Champ. Gewirtz had expressed that Rhodes could have looked more enthusiastic while handing his Mania opportunity to The Great One.

The American Nightmare explained that Brian might be right because things were so real that he wasn’t thinking of himself as a performer in the moment:

“He might have a point. He might, only because I didn’t think of myself. The moment was so real—I guess I didn’t think of myself in a performance sense of ‘You’re not smiling or you are smiling,’ and then the Final Boss had whispered something in my ear that was actually really kind and nice, and I did smile.

And then, I think not so much about my face; the thing I remember about it is I wanted to get out of there. I wanted to get out of there. I did want them to have their moment. I wanted to be gone. I didn’t want people to linger on me.”

Cody Rhodes’ Boo Boo Face

The segment in question happened during the February 2 episode of SmackDown, days after Rhodes won the 2024 Royal Rumble.

Due to his expressions, fans started a huge campaign on social media rejecting the idea of The Rock taking his spot. The backlash forced the Hollywood star to change his plans and it put Cody back on the path to finish his story.

Talking about his expressions during the segment, Cody Rhodes explained that he didn’t think the production would focus so much on him. He was just looking to get out of the spotlight as soon as possible:

“It seems like…I would never shade our production team, especially with what Brian Fadem, and Lee Fitting – everyone is doing. I think they might have spent a little too much time focused on me in the first place—and not focused on that potential matchup. Because, yeah, I don’t think I offered up, Brian probably has a point, I don’t think I offered up the best faces for what that should have been.

I certainly wasn’t trying to be a ‘boo-boo’ face—you know, boo boo is famous in the industry when something’s up and you can tell upon somebody’s entrance. But maybe I was like the number one case of it of all time—who knows?

I did not think they would spend so much time on me. I did not think they would be looking at me while I was in the aisle. I just wanted to get back to my bus. I actually didn’t go through gorilla; I walked around it. I didn’t want to see anybody. I just sprinted and got on my bus and just locked the door.”

Cody Rhodes is currently scheduled to defend his Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens at the Bash In Berlin PPV on August 31. You can check out the betting odds for the show here.

Current Champion Legitimately Hurt During TNA Emergence PPV Match

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

One half of the current TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions Alisha Edwards suffered a legitimate injury during her match at tonight’s Emergence PPV.

The female star teamed up with Ash by Elegance & Masha Slamovich to take on Jordynne Grace, Jody Threat & Dani Luna in a six women tag team match on the show.

At one point in the match, Jody Threat hit a flip dive to the outside on her opponents taking everyone out. When Edwards bumped down for the spot, however, she appeared to have hit her head on the floor or the bottom of the entrance ramp.

The champion was knocked out for real according to PWinsider. Other participants of the bout tried to raise her up for a spot after this but failed.

After realizing that she was knocked out, they brawled with each other instead. The officials then checked on Edwards and the medical staff took her to the back.

The match continued without the wrestling veteran. The ending saw Ash missing a Swanton and Threat capitalized on the opportunity with an F5 for the win.

Alisha was treated backstage and the belief is that she suffered a concussion during the spot. Though this hasn’t been confirmed.

Edwards made a couple of appearances for TNA before joining the company in a regular capacity in 2017. She has been a part of the Knockouts roster since then. She won the Knockouts Tag Team Championships with Masha Slamovich during the Under Siege event back in May.

SEScoops wishes Alisha Edwards a speedy recovery.

Watch: JBL Makes Surprise TNA Debut At Emergence PPV

Anutosh Bajpai
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Former WWE Champion JBL has been making appearances all over the wrestling world and his latest stop was the TNA Emergence PPV event.

The main event of the show featured Nic Nemeth defending the TNA World Championship against Josh Alexander in a 60-minute Iron Man match.

Nemeth picked up early pins in the match to take a 2-0 lead but Alexander evened the score with two consecutive C4 spike piledrivers.

The former WWE star hit the Danger Zone on Josh when only 1 minute was remaining in the match. Instead of going for the pin, however, he executed a C4 spike piledriver of his own to get the score to 3-2 and win the match.

The champion couldn’t celebrate his victory for long as he was interrupted by JBL making his TNA debut. The WWE Hall of Famer entered the ring and whispered something in Nemeth’s ear. The world champion nodded his head in agreement and the show went off air with the debuting star exiting the ring.

Apart from this, the show also featured the return of the X Division match. Mike Bailey entered the bout as champion but it was Zachary Wentz who came out victorious.

Joe Hendry was in action teaming up with The Hardy Bros & Mike Santana. This team was defeated by Moose, Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, & Johnny Dango Curtis in the 8 men tag team match.

Nikki Garcia Requests Privacy After Husband’s Arrest

Dominic DeAngelo
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Nikki Garcia understandably would like some privacy following her husband Artem Chigvintsev’s arrest on August 29.

Chigvintsev, a pro dancer who Nikki first met on Dancing With The Stars, was arrested and booked in Napa Valley for corporal injury Thursday, only two days after his second anniversary with Garcia.

A statement was issued on behalf of Garcia reading, “This is a private matter, and Nikki asks for privacy for her and her family at this time.”

Chigvintsev was released not long after his arrest after posting a $25,000 bail. On the day of their anniversary, Garcia posted a celebration post on Instagram that featured lyrics from Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” She also included the following comments:

““This song is our love story. I’ll never forget where I was when I asked Jesus about Artem. Having a conversation with He & God. How my feelings felt too soon. It all felt too fast. And then this song came on. And that’s when I knew that I was falling in love with him and that it was all meant to be.”

Garcia and Chigvintsev met back in 2017 and at the time, Nikki was dating John Cena, but once their relationship ended, she began dating Artem. In the past Nikki did cite relationship troubles with Artem after having time away from him. Together they have a four-year old son named Matteo.

Along with her sister Brie, Nikki was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame back in 2021 along with JBL, The British Bulldog, Jushin Thunder Liger and the NWO.

If you are experiencing domestic violence you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org.

Vince McMahon’s doctor files motion to dismiss discovery complaint filed by Janel Grant

BJ Bethel
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0

Attorneys for Dr. Carlon Colker and Peak Wellness filed a motion to dismiss on Thursday, asking the court to reject a bill of discovery complaint filed by Janel Grant and her counsel in July.

Grant filed the bill of discovery complaint in Connecticut court in July. Her counsel claimed Colker and Peak Wellness had refused to turnover discovery and information, including her medical records, twice in the spring. Grant’s civil court complaint against McMahon accuses an employee of Peak Wellness of assaulting her with McMahon.

Counsel for McMahon and Colker have claimed the bill of discovery complaint violates the federal stay order both parties agreed to in June. Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York requested the stay, which lasts until December, in order to keep the civil suit from interfering with the federal government’s investigation of McMahon.

Grant attorney Ann Callis said the discovery filing didn’t violate the federal stay because it was in a state court and it didn’t involve the defendants in the federal case. The complaint also asked for information to see if there was a potential RICO violation.

Colker’s motion gave three reasons Grant’s complaint should be dismissed:

  • 1. The complaint wasn’t verified, per Connecticut General Statutes code 52-156a(a)(1).
  • 2. It seeks information for discovery in her federal case, which is contrary to the limitations of 52-156(a)(1).
  • 3. That Grant and her counsel are planning to ignore procedures in “a similar” manner” in Connecticut Superior Court, stating the different procedures for statutory bills of discovery.

Connecticut General Statute 52-156a(a)(1)

Conn 52 156aa1

“This is not a bill of discovery … as it purports to be,” the motion said. “It is a wish list for this court’s assistance in evading a stay that has been entered in plaintiff’s federal action.”

Attorneys for Colker and Peak Wellness filed a motion to extend on Aug. 21, asking for one more week to respond to Grant’s discovery motion.

McMahon’s counsel has tried blocking Grant’s bill of discovery complaint in federal court on Aug. 6, but was denied by Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer, who said the motion didn’t pertain to any defendants in the federal case and it was filed in a state court, not a federal court.

Grant is suing McMahon in federal civil court, accusing him of sex assault, sex trafficking and other abuses. In February, the Wall Street Journal reported a federal grant jury has been investigating sex crimes against McMahon, including rape.

Big Return Featured On 8/30 WWE SmackDown (Spoiler)

Dominic DeAngelo
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A major WWE star made her long-awaited return to WWE SmackDown on August 30, 2024, after being absent since WWE SummerSlam earlier this month. Bayley, who had a notable match against Nia Jax at SummerSlam, reappeared in a surprising moment during tonight’s tapings.

During the go-home episode of SmackDown before Bash At Berlin, Bayley made a dramatic entrance by interrupting Tiffany Stratton’s attack on Michin. As Stratton was poised to deliver her signature Prettiest Moonsault Ever, Bayley intervened, stopping the assault and chasing Stratton into the crowd. Watch the moment here:

https://twitter.com/BWAChief/status/1829593720053768209

Bayley, who first won the WWE Women’s Title at WrestleMania 40 by defeating IYO SKY, has recently been on a babyface run since parting ways with her former faction, Damage CTRL. Interestingly, Damage CTRL has also undergone a transformation, now appearing as babyfaces on WWE RAW.

With Bash At Berlin taking place tomorrow, WWE has intensified its efforts to build momentum for SmackDown, with Bayley’s return being a key highlight. Additionally, it has been announced that Giovanni Vinci will make his WWE SmackDown debut next week on September 6.

With Bayley back, SmackDown’s women’s division now features a strong roster of babyfaces, including Michin, Naomi, Bianca Belair, and Jade Cargill. The primary heels are Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton.

Giovanni Vinci’s WWE SmackDown Debut Set For Next Week (9/6)

Dominic DeAngelo
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Fans should gear up for the highly anticipated return of Giovanni Vinci next week. After weeks of teasing through various vignettes, the former Imperium member is set to make his comeback.

During Friday’s WWE SmackDown tapings in Berlin, a video aired announcing Vinci’s return on the September 6 episode of the show.

The vignettes have depicted Vinci in a manner reminiscent of his early NXT persona—enjoying lavish settings, sipping top-shelf drinks, and cruising in luxury cars.

Vinci has been absent from WWE programming since an April episode of WWE RAW, following a loss to New Day that led to a brutal attack by his former ally, Ludwig Kaiser. Kaiser’s assault with steel steps sidelined Vinci for several months. Shortly after, during the WWE Draft, Vinci was quietly moved to SmackDown.

The recent teases suggest Vinci will maintain his heel persona, but character shifts in WWE are always possible. Separating him from his former Imperium comrades might breathe new life into his character, who often played a supporting role within the faction.

While Kaiser and GUNTHER remain aligned, Imperium is no longer emphasized as a faction. With GUNTHER’s World Heavyweight Title victory, all three members are now receiving a greater focus on their individual careers.

WWE SmackDown Results from Berlin, Germany (8/30/24)

Michael Reichlin
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WWE taped this week’s SmackDown on Friday from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, the site of Saturday’s Bash in Berlin PLE. SEScoops correspondent Thomas Lowson attended live and provided these results:

Open Challenge: LA Knight comes out to a huge pop to open the show. He cuts a promo asking who will answer his open challenge. It’s answered by Ludwig Kaiser, who comes out to a huge pop. The crowd was so loud during this segment it was difficult to hear everything they were saying. Kaiser says when he wins, he’ll re-brand the US Championship as the European Championship.

US Title Match: LA Knight defeats Ludwig Kaiser. Kaiser was in control for much of the match. Knight got mixed responses and was being booed by the end.

Promo Video: Hype for Randy Orton’s World Heavyweight title match against Gunther at Bash in Berlin.

Tag Match: LDF (Angel and Berto) defeat Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin. Loud “er ist scheiße” (“he is sh*”t) chants when either Angel or Berto were on offense.

Video Package: Solo Sikoa runs down everyone The Bloodline has beaten down. The Tribal Chief says he’s coming for the Undisputed WWE title after Bash in Berlin and doesn’t care who is the champion.

In-Ring Segment: SmackDown GM Nick Aldis is out next. He shows a highlight video package of this week’s WWE live events tour of Europe, and introduces Bash in Berlin opponents Kevin Owens and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Owens says Rhodes injured his knee this week during a match, but the champion insists he’s fine. Owens expressed bitterness about his first Universal title win, saying it’s tainted because of Triple H’s assistance. Cody knows Owens is angry. but he loves him, and after he beats him tomorrow night, they’ll still be friends.

Backstage Segment: Grayson Waller and Theory tease a breakup, but Waller apologies and Theory forgives him.

Promo Video: Hype for Sunday’s NXT No Mercy premium live event on Peacock. Big chants for Joe Hendry, who challenges Ethabn Page for the NXT title in the main event.

Next Week: Giovanni Vinci debuts next week on WWE SmackDown, September 6, 2024.

Singles Match: Carmelo Hayes defeats Andrade. This was given a good amount of time and received justified ‘This is Awesome’ chants.

Street Fight: Nia Jax defeats Michin to retain the WWE Women’s Championship.Plenty of weapons used, including chairs, kendo sticks, trash cans and tables. Tiffany Stratton did a run-in during the match and the place exploded expecting a Money in the Bank cash-in. Stratton seemed ready to cash in, until Jax saw her. As Stratton was attacking Michin, Bayley returned (first appearance since SummerSlam) and ran off Tiffany Stratton. Jax puts Minchin in a trash can and hits her with a bonzai drop for the win.

Dark Matches

After the WWE SmackDown tapings concluded, fans witnessed two additional non-televised matches.

Singles Match: Damian Priest made short work of Dominik Mysterio and scored the victory after hitting a choke-slam.

Main Event: Gunther retains the World Heavyweight Championship against Ilja Dragunov. Fans got distracted with various chants and the wave, but Gunther and Dragunov eventually won them back and received “This is awesome” and “Fight forever” chants.

From Russia With Love: Wrestling Fan Travels Overseas To See MLW

Dominic DeAngelo
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Wrestling fans know no borders, and that was evident this weekend in Queens at MLW’s Summer of the Beasts event.

Major League Wrestling’s event took place on Thursday evening at the Melrose Ballroom, drawing a sold-out crowd. The excitement wasn’t limited to New Yorkers—Art, a fan who traveled all the way from Russia, made MLW his first stop in the U.S. to experience the action firsthand.

“I came to America to see all these cool guys smashing each other around. I’m gonna see all my favorites like KENTA, Matt Riddle, Paul London—you name it. All the international talents are here tonight, and I’m really psyched to see that. So it’s going to be a bop.”

Though legends like Ivan and Nikita Koloff weren’t in attendance, Art wasn’t exaggerating about the international talent packed into Thursday’s event. KENTA was joined by the likes of Mistico, Minoru Suzuki, Atlantis Jr., TJP, and Hanako. Additionally, the reigning World Champion, KOJIMA, who recently lost the World Tag Titles to CONTRA Unit, headlined the event.

The evening also showcased the ongoing Opera Cup, with four matches determining the semi-finalists. Mistico triumphed over Atlantis Jr. in the main event, while TJP bested Tom Lawlor, Bad Dude Tito defeated Alex Kane, and KENTA took down AKIRA.

MLW fans were also treated to a surprise debut as Donovan Dijak made his presence felt during a four-way scramble. In another highlight, Paul London made a long-awaited return to the MLW ring after a 20-year hiatus.

WWE Bash in Berlin Odds: Favorites Revealed Ahead of PLE

Jake Skudder
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The WWE Bash in Berlin is set to be the first-ever WWE Premium Live Event (PLE) to take place in Germany, scheduled for August 31, 2024, at the Uber Arena in Berlin.

As the anticipation builds, betting odds have been released by BetOnline, revealing the favorites for each match. Let’s dive into the latest odds and analyze the expected outcomes of the event.

Headline Matches and Betting Favorites

Among the most anticipated matches is the clash between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre in a Strap Match. This bout marks their second showdown, and the betting odds favor CM Punk to emerge victorious with odds of -400 against McIntyre’s +250. This result could set the stage for a final showdown at the WWE Bad Blood PLE next month.

Another major highlight is the defense of the World Championships. Gunther, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, is heavily favored to retain his title against Randy Orton, with staggering odds of -5000 against Orton’s +1200.

Similarly, the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is predicted to retain his championship against Kevin Owens, boasting odds of -6000 compared to Owens’ +1500.

Tag Team Action and Potential Surprises

The event will also feature a significant tag team match where Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest are expected to defeat Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio.

The odds here are -325 for Ripley and Priest, while Morgan and Mysterio stand at +185. This match could be pivotal as WWE builds storylines around Judgment Day’s recent betrayal.

Women’s Tag Team Championship Odds

One of the closest matchups in terms of betting odds involves the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Current champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn are only slight favorites to retain their titles against challengers Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair.

The odds are set at -200 for the champions and +150 for the challengers, suggesting a potential title change could be on the cards.

WWE Bash in Berlin Predictions: CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre and More

Jake Skudder
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WWE’s Bash in Berlin 2024 promises to be a spectacular event with exciting matchups. As fans eagerly anticipate the action, here are our predictions for the top matches, including CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.

Bash in Berlin Predictions

WWE Title Match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs Kevin Owens

Cody Rhodes will defend his WWE Title against Kevin Owens in what promises to be decent in-ring. Rhodes, fresh off his SummerSlam victory, chose Owens as his next opponent to thank him for his help against the Bloodline.

Despite Owens initially rejecting the handout, Rhodes was able to convince him. WWE has multiple routes to explore with this storyline, from Owens turning on Rhodes to setting up a feud for the fall.

Prediction: Cody Rhodes retains

WWE Women’s Tag Team Title Match: The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) (c) vs Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill are set to reclaim their WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles from Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn. Since their victory in Scotland, Fyre and Dawn haven’t been spotlighted as a significant act, leading many to believe that Belair and Cargill, a makeshift team, will regain their titles.

Prediction: Belair & Cargill win

Mixed Tag Team Match: Damian Priest & Rhea Ripley vs Dominik Mysterio & Liv Morgan

The Judgment Day faction faces the ‘Terror Twins’ as Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley take on Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan. With the new Judgment Day having only just formed and Finn Balor likely to interfere to set up a match at Bad Blood, it is likely that Dom and Liv will take the win here.

Prediction: Mysterio & Morgan win

Strap Match: CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre

This strap match between CM Punk and Drew McIntyre, a “touch all the corners” bout, could lead to a future Hell in a Cell match, which is what we’re expecting at Bad Blood. Given the buildup, McIntyre is likely to continue his winning streak against Punk.

Prediction: Drew McIntyre wins

WWE World Heavyweight Title Match: Gunther (c) vs. Randy Orton

Gunther defends his WWE World Heavyweight Title against Randy Orton in a highly anticipated match. Gunther’s recent success and the buildup to this bout suggest he will retain his championship against the former Legend Killer.

Prediction: Gunther retains

Cody and Dusty Rhodes Bobbleheads Available for Pre-Order

Scott Fishman
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0

Two eras. One legacy. Toy manufacturer FOCO has announced the release of a Cody Rhodes and Dusty Rhodes WWE American Dream-American Nightmare Dual Bobblehead. The handcrafted and hand-painted collectible portrays two of the most popular pro wrestlings in history wearing their ring gear in action poses looking ready to take on the competition. 

“The American Dream” and “The American Nightmare” text were emblazoned on the front of the base of the display. The thematic, split-color base brings a double dose of WWE greatness.  It’s the perfect addition to fans young and old. 

Cody and Dusty Rhodes Bobbleheads
The American Dream and the Tmerican Nightmare

This is the latest in a series of high-quality bobbleheads from FOCO, which prides itself on being the leading manufacturer of sports and entertainment merchandizing celebrating more than 20 years in the industry. So many have been immortalized in bobblehead form from nWo, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Roddy Piper to LA Knight, Seth Rollins, and AJ Styles. 

Along with WWE, they have also licensed all major sports leagues including NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, and over 200 colleagues and universities as well as other entertainment properties such as Nickelodeon and Peanuts.

Visit Foco.com to preorder the Cody Rhodes and Dusty Rhodes Bobblehead set and see their full line of wrestling merchandise.

Mojo Rawley Talks Wrestlers Combine, Representing Talent

Scott Fishman
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Dean Muhtadi, better known to fans as Mojo, knows a thing or two about pro sports given his NFL and WWE background. He is putting all that experience to use as the company he helped co-found, Paragon Talent Agency, in partnership with DraftKings, are hosting a Wrestler’s Combine on September 4. The event is run in collaboration with Black Label Pro Wrestling. 

The athletic competition coincides with the card of matches, part of the Crowning Glory event in Chicago. Mojo will co-host the festivities along with “Tough Enough” winner Maven and Emmy-winning interviewer Chris Van Vliet. The show is actually streaming on Vilet’s YouTube channel.

This unique happening has an impressive list of famous faces including Moose, Jordynne Grace, Parker Boudreaux, Ash by Elegance, Xia Li (Zhao Xia), Mandy Sacs, Riddick Moss (Mike Rallis), and Jake Hager. For Mojo, the Wrestler’s Combine has been in the works for a while. 

“The concept itself is pretty cool. Pro wrestling is a completely different business than the NFL, but the NFL has some cool things they do that we don’t have in the wrestling world.

One of them is the NFL Combine where they bring in all the talent and find out who is the fastest and who is the strongest as a recruiting tool to see who is going to be picked up in the NFL Draft. Pro wrestling, we don’t have anything liek that. The idea was to bring that to the wrestling world.” 

– Mojo Rawley

There are four women and four men competing in the combine itself. The participants will be put through four events. This includes who can run the ropes the fastest, arm wrestling, a wrestler’s twist on tug-of-war, and a shoot collar and elbow tie-up. Mojo stresses it’s all a legit competition. There are bragging rights and reputations on the line.

Agents and the Lack of Unionions in Pro Wrestling

The big names attached to the event have connections to Mojo’s agency. Something he wanted to do for a while with the idea that players in the NFL had all this fancy representation like any other major sports. So, why couldn’t pro wrestlers have access to these services as well? 

“You go to wrestling, there is no union. There are barely representatives of any kind,” Mojo explained. “There are no full-circle 360 representatives out there for people. The idea was to start the first one for pro wrestling. COVID started the company sooner than I meant for it to because COVID ended my career with WWE abruptly. I had to find a way to pivot. 

I’ve always been a guy who thought out Plan B should things go wrong. I started Paragon the first day I was a free man after I called one of my best friends Steve Kaye, who has a legitimate business background as well. I told him what I wanted to do and it took him 15 seconds to hear about this thing and jumped in. 

– Mojo Rawley

Mojo and Kaye put their MBAs, acumen for the biz and contacts into their new venture. It took off with Mojo saying they’ve done paid deals for 350 talent. “That tells you right there how much of a need there was for something like this,” he added. “…One is to help out the talent, but two, reintroduce the outside world to what pro wrestlers are capable of.” 

WWE NIL

The landscape is a lot different place than when Mojo started his pro wrestling journey from the gridiron more than a decade ago. He is impressed with WWE’s NIL and recruitment approach, which has given them a wealth of emerging talent in recent years. 

“They put a lot of weight and money behind it. Way more than they were doing before. I felt like before they were subscribing to the approach that you throw as much against the wall as you can and see what sticks.

It’s not a terrible strategy. I know that sounds like I’m downplaying the legitimacy of a strategy like that. But when you have a revolving door, you sink or swim, get in and get out. That way works for a lot of people. I think now they are doing their due diligence a lot more.

They are going out and finding these college athletes and seeing what they are about, signing them and locking them in early before they potentially blow up in their careers and go another route. It is a smart thing to do. You see college programs offering children scholarships sometimes. I had a buddy who played for the Arizona Cardinals. He was born as the biggest baby in Louisiana. I think LSU offered him a scholarship the day he was born. Guess what? He went to the school later on, so these things actually can work out for you.” 

– Mojo Rawley

By the same token, Mojo thinks recruiting off the indies is also a lot more streamlined. He makes the point that we’re seeing some of the current signed WWE talent go and wrestle or do autograph signings and appearances at independent promotions. He states that was never a thing before and the “floodgates are open.” He credits this in part to the existence of AEW. 

NFL Players Doing Wrestling

Before his WWE release, Mojo looked to be cooking something big with his buddy Rob Gronkowski. The Super Bowl champ ended up going back for one last, ditching his pro wrestling aspirations. However, Mojo doesn’t rule out a return for “Gronk” one day. He also assesses if we’ll see Patrick Mahomes, or Travis and Jason Kelce in the ring as well. 

“‘Gronk’ is the only one that is retired. From a logistics standpoint, you have to think it’s him [first]. He loves pro wrestling. We certainly planned on doing a lot more together, but life takes you to different places and everyone goes on to the next thing,” Mojo said. “The Kelces have been to WWE shows. They’ve done well. They have the personality for it. Mohomes  is probably last on the list of who you will see do stuff.” 

– Mojo Rawley

For Mojo, it comes to passion and a deep-rooted desire to do it. Mostly because they surely don’t need the money. 

“Honestly, with a lot of those guys, you’ll probably only see a one-off or pay-per-view with the buildup for a couple of months,” Mojo added. “It’s very hard to take somebody who is making $10 to $50 million a year and pay them a fraction of that but ask them to get their ass kicked more and train for something brand new after they already made it to the tippy top of NFL or pro sports. 

“…Honestly, the person who has come close to that has been Moose. Moose was a seven-year starter in the NFL and he left football to come to wrestling and came to wrestling. He didn’t come to WWE and get offered a fat contract. He just left football because he liked wrestling better…That doesn’t happen. I give him all the credit in the world for that. AJ Francis is another example of that. He was a starter as well in the NFL. He and I were college teammates. I remember back when we were playing ball together. Even when he was in the NFL, he would say he was just biding my time until I got a shot at WWE. I would leave the NFL in two seconds to go do that. I love that more. Then he actually did…He started over to make nothing at NXT.” 

– Mojo Rawley

Coming Out of Retirement

As for if we’ll ever see Mojo in the ring again, that’s another story. It’s a return four years and counting in the making. 

“I’m absolutely going to wrestle again at some point,” he stated. “I don’t know when it’s going to be or where it’s going to be. I thought it would have been by now, but I’ve been so busy with Paragon, which I guess is a good problem to have. I feel like my contributions to the pro wrestling business through Paragon had been way better, way bigger, and way more important than anything I could have possibly done in-ring. With all these booking wrestlers for gigs, it just gets you reminiscent in your field a little bit. I’m going to have to do something at some point.” 

– Mojo Rawley

For more on everything Crowning Glory, check out the Black Label Pro website.

WWE SmackDown Preview from Berlin: Street Fight, Open Challenge

Michael Reichlin
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WWE presents a special international edition of WWE SmackDown tonight on FOX at 8/7c. The final SmackDown before WWE Bash in Berlin view will be taped from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, the site of Saturday’s premium live event.

Matches announced tonight’s SmackDown include:

  • Open Challenge: LA Knight will put his United States Championship on the line against whoever steps up.
  • Street Fight for the Women’s Championship: Queen Nia Jax (c) vs. Michin
  • Carmelo Hayes vs. Andrade
  • Santos Escobar vs. Baron Corbin

Update: WWE SmackDown Tapings Results from Berlin (8/30)

What Happened Last Week on SmackDown?

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:

Dominik Mysterio Reveals What Fueled His ‘Bad Guy’ Run

Bishal Roy
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The Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio is one of the most hated heels in WWE and he might be the only wrestler to ‘turn heel while being a heel.’ ‘Dirty Dom,’ the son of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio has perfectly embraced his villainous role since September 2022 and he is showered with boos whenever he shows up.

Dominik Mysterio took his heel status up by a notch when he betrayed his ‘Mami’ Rhea Ripley and shockingly kissed Liv Morgan at SummerSlam. Speaking with the NY Post, the second-generation wrestler said that locking lips with Morgan fueled his heel run and he is blessed for the opportunities. He said:

“I think I’m one of the only people, if not the only person to turn heel while already being the heel. It’s kind of just pouring more gasoline on the fire at that point. It’s just really cool. I’m just blessed for all the opportunities and I’m thankful for them. I’m just doing me. They hate me because I’m pretty.”

– Dominik Mysterio

The Judgment saga is not yet over and Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest (The Terror Twins) are trying to seek revenge on Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio. Mysterio and Morgan will team up to face Ripley and fellow former Judgment Day member Priest at Bash in Berlin. WWE’s first PLE in Germany will emanate from the Uber Arena on Saturday, August 31.

Liv Morgan’s Injury Proved To Be A Blessing: I’m That B**** Now!

Thomas Lowson
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In 2023, a separated shoulder injury would put Liv Morgan on the shelf and cost her months of action before returning in this year’s Women’s Royal Rumble match. While an injury is typically the worst thing to happen to a WWE Superstar, this setback proved to be a blessing in disguise for the reigning Women’s World Champion.

Speaking to Us, Morgan addressed the injury she suffered, which resulted in her being written off TV with an attack by Rhea Ripley. This time away from the ring provided the 30-year-old Superstar with an opportunity to reassess her place in WWE, especially after years of feeling like she didn’t truly belong—feelings that had plagued her since her days in WWE NXT.

“It wasn’t until I came back from my injury this past year that I went from like, ‘I’m lucky to be here’ to ‘I’m that b***h. I don’t know what that switch was… It wasn’t until I had those months off where I only had to be myself.”

Morgan has certainly proven to be that b***h in 2024 after capturing the WWE Women’s World Champion at WWE King And Queen of the Ring from Becky Lynch. She solidified her reign by successfully defending the title against Lynch in a steel cage match on RAW—a match that marked The Man’s final WWE appearance.

What’s Next?

Morgan’s ‘revenge’ tour will take her to Berlin, Germany tomorrow night where she will compete at the inaugural WWE Bash in Berlin event. In the Uber Arena, Morgan will team with Judgment Day ally Dominik Mysterio to face Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley.

Post-Berlin, Morgan will continue to defend her WWE Women’s World Championship on TV and at Premium Live Events. With the full support of Judgment Day and her ever-improving in-ring skills, Morgan’s reign shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Jordynne Grace Offers to “Fly Out” NXT Superstar For Match

Jake Skudder
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In an unexpected turn of events, NXT Superstar Jaida Parker has publicly expressed her desire to face Jordynne Grace, the TNA Knockouts Champion.

This challenge comes after Parker’s recent interview with MuscleManMalcom, where she discussed her ambitions and the possibility of answering an open challenge from Grace for the TNA Knockouts Championship.

During the interview, Parker confidently stated, “I’m waiting on my plane ticket. You got something I want, and that’s that gold.”

Jordynne Grace’s Response to the Challenge

Jordynne Grace wasted no time responding to Parker’s challenge. In a tweet that quickly got attention from fans online, Grace replied, “I’ll fly you out myself, drop me your government name and DOB.”

There is currently no indication that this match is something that both TNA and NXT are looking at going forward, but it could be a big for Parker’s burgeoning career.

Parker is currently set to face Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Championship at the No Mercy Premium Live Event on Sunday, September 1st. Grace could make an appearance at the show, but it is not something that we have heard it likely at this point.

Rhea Ripley Tattoos: Former Judgment Day Member Explains Her Ink

Jake Skudder
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Rhea Ripley recently opened up about the personal significance behind her tattoos in a new episode of WWE Tattooed. The former member of Judgment Day revealed the deeper meanings of her ink, reflecting her personal journey and experiences.

The Start of Ripley’s Tattoo Journey

Rhea Ripley’s first tattoo is a tribute to the pivotal moment in her WWE career, the date of WWE Evolution.

Ripley described this day as the true beginning of her transformation into “The Nightmare” and “The Eradicator,” identities that have come to define her wrestling persona.

Despite the pain of the tattooing process, Ripley was eager to start her journey into body art, considering it a thrilling experience that signified her new path in WWE:

“It was a really special day. It really was the start of my awesome career here within the WWE and my gradual change into The Nightmare, The Eradicator, the absolute brutality that you see today. It [the tattoo] definitely stung and I was a little bit thrown off with that, but I was also so excited to start this tattoo journey.”

A Symbol of Sisterly Bond

Another meaningful piece of ink Ripley has is a tattoo representing her bond with her younger sister, Calista. She explained that the tattoo symbolizes their unbreakable connection, regardless of distance or circumstances:

“We are sisters for life. It doesn’t matter how far we go in life or what the distance is between us. We’re always going to be there for each other and we’re always going to love each other. So we just wanted to have some sort of memento of our love.”

WrestleMania and the Crowned Sugar Skull

Ripley also shared the story behind her sugar skull tattoo adorned with a crown. She added the crown during WrestleMania 39 and Ripley claimed that she did so because she knew she was going to beat Charlotte Flair for HER crown:

“I added the crown to it at WrestleMania 39 because I was being cheeky. I was like, ‘I’m gonna get a crown because I’m going to take Charlotte Flair’s crown,’ so now I have a crown, and that’s exactly what I did.”

Vince McMahon Documentary Director Reveals Goal Behind The Series

Bishal Roy
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The Netflix docuseries on former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will release next month and the director has revealed the goal he had in mind while making the series.

The series, titled Mr. McMahon, with the tagline “Mastermind. Madman.” is set to release on September 25. It consists of six one-hour episodes.

Series director and executive producer Chris Smith recently shared the goal behind the series. He said that the goal behind the series was to bring out the real side of Vince McMahon amid the allegations he has faced. Smith said:

“The goal behind ‘Mr. McMahon’ was to pull back the curtain and reveal the true Vince McMahon, obscured beneath the persona he presented to the world. Over the four years of production, the story evolved in truly shocking ways, culminating in some extremely harrowing allegations. The final product is a revealing documentary that we believe offers a rich and nuanced portrait of the man and the complex legacy he left behind.”

Mr. McMahon docuseries will capture the rise and fall of Vince McMahon. The six-part series will depict how Vince transformed WWE from a small, regional business into a global juggernaut as well as the shocking sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation.

Vince McMahon had initially stepped down from WWE a couple of years back but he returned six months later. However, he departed the company again following the Janel Grant lawsuit which was filed in January earlier this year.

Netflix’s Mr. McMahon documentary series will be released a few months ahead of WWE Raw’s move to Netflix in 2025.

Ronda Rousey Reveals What WWE “Never Allowed” Her To Do

Jake Skudder
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Ronda Rousey, the former UFC champion and WWE superstar, recently opened up about her experience in WWE, revealing some surprising details about her time in the ring. In a recent appearance on the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, Rousey discussed her frustration with the limitations WWE placed on her, specifically regarding preparation time for her matches.

The Glory of WrestleMania 34

During the podcast, Ronda Rousey reminisced about her debut match at WrestleMania 34, a moment she described as the pinnacle of her WWE career.

“I got weeks to prepare, all the best minds in the business throwing their two cents in,” she shared. With the guidance of legends like Triple H, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, and others, Rousey felt fully prepared and excited for her debut. The extensive preparation and collaboration led to a memorable performance that night.

WWE’s Restrictions on Preparation Time

However, Rousey revealed that this level of preparation was a one-time opportunity. “I always wanted to recreate that feeling, but I was never allowed ever again,” she lamented.

According to Rousey, WWE did not provide her with the same amount of time and resources for her subsequent matches. As her WWE career progressed, she felt the organization didn’t give her enough time to prepare properly, which she believes affected her performance and the overall quality of her matches.

The Impact of Limited Resources

Rousey expressed disappointment over the lack of support and resources from WWE after her initial success. She mentioned that WWE’s approach of not “putting the machine behind” her or other talents limited what they could achieve.

“If they put the machine behind these people, they would be doing so much more than they are now,” she stated, pointing out the missed opportunities for both the performers and the company.

Donovan Dijak Appears In MLW For The First Time

Bishal Roy
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Former WWE wrestler Donovan Dijak recently made his impactful Major League Wrestling (MLW) debut at the promotion’s Summer of the Beasts event.

Earlier, a Doomsday clock was shown that counted down from roughly two hours. Little Guido, Nolo Kitano, Jimmy Lloyd, LSG were competing in a four-way scramble and the clock hit zero. This led to Dijak’s debut in the promotion.

The former RETRIBUTION member surprised the fans as he interrupted the match and took out all the competitors. Dijak had Mister Saint Laurent by his side and he went on to brutally attack all four wrestlers.

After wreaking havoc, Dijak said that he was going to be the next MLW World Champion and called out the likes of former WWE star Matt Riddle and Minoru Suzuki.

After being with WWE for seven years, Dijak abruptly parted ways with the company. During his run, he competed in NXT as well as on the main roster. However, he never won any titles. He challenged for the NXT tag team titles and NXT title in the past but couldn’t win. Following his WWE career, he has already won a championship in the indies.

Last month, the 37-year-old captured the Ryse Wrestling Grand Championship. Before that, the last time Dijak won a title was seven years back when he won the Pro Wrestling Resurgence Heavyweight Championship. Dijak has also made his presence felt backstage at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door this year.

SEScoops recently caught up with Donovan Dijak following his departure from WWE. You can check it out below:

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

Kevin Owens Explains Why He Was ‘Never Happy’ During His Universal Championship Run

Anutosh Bajpai
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Kevin Owens has revealed why he wasn’t happy during his run on the top in WWE and how his perspective has changed since then.

The former Universal Champion recently spoke to CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri ahead of the WWE Bash In Berlin PPV. He discussed things such as Sami Zayn being a very unreliable friend, Cody Rhodes’ journey to the top and more.

During the interview, Owens was asked about some comments he previously made about his mindset. Kevin had expressed that winning titles or main eventing WrestleMania was not as important for him anymore and instead, he was more focused on having fun and creating moments for fans to remember.

The 40-year-old explained his stance saying that wanting all these things is natural for anyone and things like winning a title is still flattering to him. He has just become less obsessed with chasing accolades because of a shift in mindset:

“I think what helped me be less obsessed, I guess, by that aspect of it is from 2015 to 2018, 2019—that’s all I could think about. That was when I was Champion all the time. I was Intercontinental Champion, I was US champion, I was the Universal champion, and I was never happy. Never happy. I always wanted to do more.

I wanted the next week to be bigger. I’d finish a match and think, ‘Okay, what’s next week now?’ And you know, the people I’d speak to were like, ‘I don’t know, we don’t know what’s next week, we’ll figure it out.’ You know what I mean? And I just—I really didn’t enjoy any of it as much as I should have.

Then I went away and had double knee surgery in 2018. I spent five months at home, away from it, and I think that really helped me put things in perspective. I really needed to get that time away because at that time, I’d been on the road for four years with WWE, and it’s like a train—you know, you get on and you just don’t get off. You don’t realize how quickly time passes.”

I’m Able To Pull Back: Kevin Owens

Kevin Owens made his main roster debut back in 2015 answering the US Open challenge of John Cena. He still held the NXT Championship during the time and Owens continued appearing on the development brand for a while.

His first singles title win on the main roster came at Night of Champions in September when KO defeated Ryback for the Intercontinental Championship. Between 2015 to 2018, the Prizefighter had two IC title runs, three US title reigns and one lengthy run with the Universal Championship.

The former champion went on a hiatus in October 2018. During this time he got the chance to appreciate everything he had achieved. According to Owens, a talk with Shawn Michaels during his break was instrumental in changing his perspective:

“When I went away, I talked to a lot of people about how it was really hard for me to shut it off and just not be consumed by wrestling all the time. I actually remember one of the very useful talks I had was with Shawn Michaels. I called him out of the blue, and he was kind enough to listen to me, and he just kind of helped me.

He told me in a lot of ways, throughout his career, he was a lot like me, always obsessed with ‘what’s next,’ not enjoying the ride. Just hearing it from somebody I looked up to so much just kind of helped me let go of that. And since then, I’ll still have my moments where I’m—you know, I get swept up, but I’m able to pull back, go like, ‘Hey, this is pretty incredible.’ Maybe it’s not perfect, or maybe it’s not the way you think it should be sometimes, but come on. That’s been very helpful.”

Kevin Owens is currently scheduled to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the Bash In Berlin special on August 31. You can check out streaming details of the show here.

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