Everybody is tuning into the Mr. McMahon docuseries on Netflix and that includes top sports media personailty Colin Cowherd who like many, is getting a whole new perspective on Vince McMahon.
Cowherd broke the mold while at ESPN with a show like SportsNation, but eventually ventured his way to Fox Sports to help establish that company as an alternative outlet for sports media. Since then he has started his own sports media company called The Volume that plays host to popular podcasts like “Club Shay Shay,” “Night Cap,” “The Draymon Green Show,” “Daniel Cormier TV,” and “3 And Out With John Middlekauf.” The Volume also previously hosted Renee Paquette’s podcast, “The Sessions.”
On his own podcast, Cowherd was talking about the passing of baseball legend and WWE Hall Of Famer Pete Rose. Cowherd weighed in how he grew up a fan of Rose, but did note of his character flaws in and out of the wild time that was 1970s baseball. This prompted him to bring up “Mr. McMahon,” something he’s been tuning into. He gave a little insight on his thoughts about the docuseries and also his connections with WWE.
“I have friends connected to the WWE and you’ll hear a lot if you watch this documentary on Vince McMahon. It’s not the half of it. It is not the half of it.”
Cowherd formed a connection with WWE when the company inked a deal for SmackDown airing on Fox and actually attended a show. Cowherd noted that he was very impressed with Charlotte Flair. Not only that, but his former agent happens to be the current WWE President Nick Khan.
Cowherd caused a lot of ire with wrestling fans when he playfully called them “booger eaters.” Colin added how he really leaned into the term to needle a bit, but did say on Renee’s podcast that he forsees pro wrestling becoming more prominent on sports channels.
WWE has one of the largest and most diverse rosters in all of professional wrestling with talent coming from all kinds of backgrounds and walks of life. Recently, a lot has been said about the representation (or lack thereof) of black male Superstars at PLEs, which many fans have found lacking.
A black male wrestler has not won a singles match at a WWE PLE since Elimination Chamber 2023 where Bobby Lashley earned a DQ victory over Brock Lesnar. For the last time a black, male wrestler won via pinfall or submission, fans must go back to WWE SummerSlam 2022 where Lashley retained the U.S. Title against Austin Theory.
WWE has been made aware of the growing criticism regarding its handling of black, male Superstars, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports.
One source within WWE is reported to have said “Well that’s obviously something that will be addressed now.” This weekend’s Bad Blood event will be WWE’s third consecutive PLE to feature no black, male Superstars.
This response from WWE comes after Swerve Strickland, AEW’s first black World Champion, had choice words for his former employer. Responding to a report that claimed WWE believes Strickland’s newly-signed AEW contract is above the market value, Swerve told The Breakfast Club “They only complain when a Black person gets paid.”
The topic of race and WWE’s handling of black wrestlers has been a topic of discussion for years. The important thing is that all talent of all backgrounds are treated with respect and given a fair opportunity to succeed in wrestling’s largest and most recognized promotion.
During the WWE SuperShow on September 28th in Columbus, Georgia, ‘The Ring General’ faced ‘The Mad Dragon’ in a title match. Gunther successfully retained his title but Dragunov sustained a major injury that will keep him on the shelf for several months. On last night’s WWE Raw, footage from their match aired and the injury was confirmed.
WWE recently shared the footage of the announcement about Dragunov’s injury on social media and Gunther mocked him in a Tweet. Check it out below:
Gunther used the same phrase that was seen on the wall at Carozza Fitness gym in Stamford, Connecticut during a video showing GUNTHER’s training for WWE Bash in Berlin where he faced Randy Orton.
The former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov will be absent from in-ring action for the remainder of the year and he is likely to miss next year’s PLEs including Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. It has been announced that he will be gone for six to nine months. A minimum of six months recovery time indicates that he will be absent for WrestleMania 41 season as well.
On the other hand, Gunther is enjoying his World title run and Sami Zayn poses a threat to his title reign. Last night on WWE Raw, ‘The Ring General’ finally accepted Zayn’s challenge and they will face each other at this weekend’s WWE Bad Blood PLE.
In recent years, WWE has embraced hosting Premium Live Events outside of North America with shows in England, Scotland, Wales, and Germany proving to be huge successes. Fans in Europe are excited to see the next stage of the promotion’s expansion, which is just getting started according to World Heavyweight Champion GUNTHER.
The Austrian powerhouse has done well at WWE’s overseas events, as he boasts victories over Sheamus, Randy Orton, and Matt Riddle in Europe. Speaking to Metro, the 2024 King of the Ring teased much more to come for WWE outside North America.
“We’re just getting started. The whole European expansion, it’s not the last of it we’ve seen… I’m excited and I’m happy that I was able to position myself as one of the front runners of representing the company.”
Where Next?
WWE reportedly has plans to host a Premium Live Event in Italy in 2025, and Cody Rhodes teased an event coming to Belgium at an August 2024 live event in Brussels. The American Nightmare has also thrown his weight behind the UK hosting a future WrestleMania, an idea John Cena spoke of at Money in the Bank 2023 in London, England.
Multiple Superstars have also spoken about a WWE PLE coming to Ireland; a natural follow-up to already hosting shows in Scotland, Wales, and England. Last month, Lyra Valkyria put forward Dublin’s 3 Arena as a venue when speaking to Video Game Chronicle. Fellow Irish Superstar JD McDonagh told Irish Wrestling and Entertainment that “Any chance I get, I bring up” hosting a PLE in his home country.
NXT Europe
While WWE could soon be hosting more PLEs in Europe, plans for NXT Europe remain stagnant. The brand was announced in 2022 and coincided with the closing of NXT UK with the vast majority of names associated with the brand being released. In the two years since NXT Europe was launched, however, developments on the brand have been slow, and plans for the program were delayed indefinitely in July 2023.
Events in Ireland, Italy, Belgium, and beyond seem more likely under WWE’s new administration than ever before in the company’s history. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from WWE and its expansion into Europe and even further.
Karrion Kross has discussed his new goal for his career. The former NXT Champion was previously called up to the WWE main roster in July 2021. However, he ended up getting released from the company in November. He returned to the company in August 2022, and has been leading the Final Testament on WWE Raw.
In a WWE Raw Exclusive, Karrion Kross discussed his career up to this point. Kross pointed out the history is written by the winners but he hasn’t felt like a winner lately. The former two-time NXT Champion has eviscerated everyone in NXT and was called up to the main roster before getting released.
Since his return, his run has been lackluster. He said that he felt suffocated by the presence of legends, who hadn’t offered advice or guidance. He believes nature’s true process is to kill the old and make way for the new. Kross wants to oust the veterans and make way for emerging talents.
‘History is always written by the victors, and lately, I haven’t always felt like the victor. I could pinpoint the exact moment things shifted. I eviscerated everyone in NXT. I mean every single person they put in front of me, I chainsawed right through them. Then, my name gets called. Very exciting. With the whole world watching, I’m humiliated. I’m lost, I’m very confused. I don’t understand what’s happening. Nobody cared. Every legend that tells you they’re here for the new, upcoming talent, they didn’t do anything for me. They just watched me suffocate. I went from being an undefeated champion to ‘your services are no longer required’ in just four months. You know why? Because I was a threat.
He added:
“I was a threat to all the boys in the back that were afraid for their spots. They’d be happy to undercut a new fresh face coming up. To all of you, these guys are legends. But to me, they’re all liars. They didn’t offer any advice, no help, no guidance. Couldn’t even make eye contact in the hallway. They can go to hell. I don’t want you to misunderstand, don’t confuse this. I’m not jealous or bitter. I, in fact, am nature’s true process. I’m here to kill the old to make way for the new. Their vanity prevents them from understanding and seeing that they’re wilting on the vine. Your time is up. I’m just here to show you the truth, the devil you know versus the devils you don’t.”
Kross was featured on last night’s edition of WWE Raw when The Miz betrayed R-Truth during their match against Authors of Pain, who got the victory.
For weeks Kross has been playing mind games with The Miz and urging him to embrace his darker side and he has succeeded. In the past, he has also manipulated New Day’s Xavier Woods, who has been showing his aggressive side lately and even picked up a win over WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio by unmasking him.
Winning the NXT Championship was a very emotional moment for Trick Williams.
The WWE star recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast. He discussed things such as Shawn Michaels comparing him to Scott Hall, NXT moving to CW, a potential main roster call up and more.
When asked about his NXT title win earlier this year, Williams first gave a shout-out to Ijla Dragunov for taking his career to the next level:
“Unreal. Shout out to Ilja Dragunov, who I would say really took my career to the next level, especially at that time, all three to four of our matches showed people that I had that next level in me. The day I did take the title from Ilja Dragunov, it was a beautiful moment.”
Trick Williams won the NXT Championship at the Spring Breakin’ event in April this year. The 30-year-old had put his NXT career on the line and with an outpouring support from the fans, he was finally able to defeat Dragunov to win the title.
According to the young star, the whole moment was unreal, and the emotion he felt during the time will be very hard to replicate in his life:
“I’m not sure if you saw but the whole arena was shaking from the Whoop That Trick chants, people stomping, people screaming, people crying. It was unreal, man, and the emotion that I felt in that ring at that time, it’s gonna be hard to duplicate, because it was just 100% everybody was behind, and that’s a special moment. Man, that’s why I wanted to do this.”
Though Williams’ reign didn’t last very long. He dropped the title to Ethan Page at the Heatwave event in July, after only 74 days. Trick will get a shot at redemption when he challenges Page for the title at tonight’s CW premiere episode of WWE’s third brand.
The Nintendo 64 (N64) is often regarded as one of the greatest gaming consoles of all time, and for wrestling fans, it was home to some of the best wrestling games ever made.
Titles like WWF No Mercy, WCW/nWo Revenge, and WWF WrestleMania 2000 have left an indelible mark on wrestling game history.
Here, we’ll explore the rich legacy of N64 wrestling games and delve into an exclusive interview with YouTube gaming content creator RGT85, where we discuss the newly released book The Art of N64 Wrestling Games.
The Golden Era of N64 Wrestling Games
The late 1990s was a golden era for professional wrestling. Both WWE (formerly WWF) and WCW were at their peak, and the rise of video game adaptations brought wrestling action to fans’ fingertips.
The N64 was home to some of the most beloved wrestling games, developed by THQ and AKI Corporation. These games were more than just button-mashing brawls; they revolutionized wrestling mechanics with smooth gameplay, deep customization, and engaging multiplayer options.
WWF No Mercy – A Timeless Classic
Of all the N64 wrestling games, WWF No Mercy remains a fan favorite to this day. Released in 2000, the game featured an impressive roster, innovative storylines, and a create-a-wrestler mode that allowed players to craft their own dream matchups.
The intuitive grappling system set it apart from its competitors, making it a go-to for both casual gamers and die-hard wrestling fans.
This title, along with others like WCW/nWo Revenge and WWF WrestleMania 2000, helped define what wrestling games could be—strategic, immersive, and fun.
The Legacy of AKI’s Engine
What truly separated these N64 wrestling games from the competition was the engine developed by AKI Corporation. The AKI engine’s fluid grappling and submission systems, combined with a stamina-based combat model, created an experience that felt incredibly authentic for the time.
Players had to master timing and strategy rather than simply mash buttons, leading to a more rewarding experience that resonated with wrestling fans around the world.
The Art of N64 Wrestling Games – A Collector’s Treasure
For those who fondly remember this golden age of wrestling games, The Art of N64 Wrestling Games is a must-have.
This book, available through CastleMania Games, is a deep dive into the development, history, and lasting impact of these iconic titles. The book features high-quality artwork, developer insights, and a behind-the-scenes look at how these games were made. It’s a celebration of what made these wrestling titles so unique, with detailed information and visuals that will appeal to collectors and gamers alike.
The book not only pays homage to the games but also documents their cultural relevance. It covers everything from design challenges to marketing strategies, offering a comprehensive look at how the magic of N64 wrestling games was crafted.
The nostalgia and passion packed into every page make it more than just a book, it is a tribute to a beloved era in gaming history.
Exclusive Interview with RGT85
We caught up with RGT85, who is a well-known figure in the gaming community and just like us a long time wrestling fan. His passion for N64 wrestling games runs deep, and in this exclusive interview, he shares his thoughts on his new The Art of N64 Wrestling Games book and why these titles have stood the test of time. Check it out below:
WWE NXT airs tonight at 8/7c on the CW Network, live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, IL. This episode will feature two title bouts, an appearance from WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair, and a Miz TV segment.
WWE has loaded up the card to set the tone for what fans can expect on the CW Network compared to what they’ve been used to seeing on the USA Network.
WWE NXT Preview
NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez vs. Giulia will open the show
NXT Champion Ethan Page vs. Trick Williams – CM Punk to be Special Guest Referee
Street Fight: Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz
Miz TV segment with Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo
Fatal Attraction (TBD) vs. Jaida Parker and Lola Vice
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair to appear
Expectations are high for the gold brand in its new journey. Fans look forward to seeing the program be rated TV-14, according to The CW’s official listings.
Shawn Michaels has confirmed that big aesthetic changes are coming to the show. We’re expecting a renovated ‘NXT Arena’ at the WWE Performance Center, refreshed on-screen graphics and more.
R-Truth still has The Miz’s back despite the latter’s betrayal on last night’s WWE Raw.
During the latest edition of the show, R-Truth made his surprise return and teamed up with The Miz. They squared off against faced Authors of Pain. During the match, Truth was left behind by the former WWE Champion following a big boot to his face. AOP capitalized on the situation and scored a pinfall win.
In a WWE Raw Exclusive, R-Truth was asked to share his thoughts on The Miz, who attacked him. Truth feels that ‘The A-Lister’ might have got confused that Truth is still a part of The Judgment Day and that his actions were not on purpose. He then said that he would reach out to The Miz for clarification.
“Yeah, I’m okay. I think he got confused. Miz got confused. He thinks I’m still in Judgment Day. [Cathy Kelley says it looked intentional.] Wait a minute. Are you saying that was done on purpose? Cathy Kelley, don’t you put no blasphemy on Miz. Miz did not do that intentionally. He was merely confused over which team I was on because I used to be in the Judgment Day a while back. But I left them, and I’m in Awesome Truth. I don’t think he did that on purpose. Did it look like it? I hope he didn’t. I need to find out. I’ll text him. As a matter of fact, I need to go find him. I don’t think he would do nothing like that, not to me. Better not have done it on purpose.”
Ahead of their match, The Miz was surprised by R-Truth’s return last night. Truth, who had been on the shelf for weeks following Bronson Reed’s brutal assault announced that he got them a match with AOP’s Akam and Rezar. He explained that he did not like how Karrion Kross was trying to manipulate the two-time Grand Slam Champion.
The Miz had been confused about his future due to his losing streak. Last week on WWE Raw, ‘The A-Lister’ was set to face ‘Big’ Bronson Reed. However, the match never started as Braun Strowman attacked Reed before the match. This left The Miz quite frustrated.
On the other hand, for weeks Kross has been playing mind games with the former WWE Champion and trying to make him realize that he could be a monster in his own way. The Miz’s heel turn has finally culminated and the eight-time WWE Intercontinental Champion could finally go a different direction by portraying a villainous role, something he has thrived on.
In a matter of hours,WWE NXT will launch on The CW with an exciting show from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, where Trick Williams seeks to become a two-time NXT Champion. Speaking this week on the Insight podcast, Williams gave his high estimation for what the gold brand’s new era will look like.
“We are about to bring the best two-hour show to CW. I mean, I put our show against anybody’s. NXT is on fire right now, and shout out to Shawn Michaels. We just clicking on all cylinders and we’re ready to put on the show.”
All eyes will be on Williams tonight as he looks to end the 82-day reign of Ethan Page, who won the gold in controversial fashion at Heatwave in July. Page’s debut in May saw the ‘All Ego’ talent attack Williams and the pair have been at odds ever since.
“He stole the title, he conned his way into WWE. He conned his way into the title picture. He conned the title of me. He ain’t gonna con his way into CW, enough is enough.”
WWE NXT On The CW
Williams Vs. Page, as officiated by CM Punk, will be just one highlight of tonight’s launch of WWE NXT on The CW. The show will also see NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez take on Giulia. Wes Lee and TNA’s Zachary Wentz will collide in a Street Fight while Miz TV will feature Oba Femi and Tony D’Angelo.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on WWE NXT’s premiere on The CW, including breaking news and live results.
In 2024, A.J. Befumo and his son Eric have taken TikTok by storm with their series of videos demonstrating their love for all things Costco. After appearing for AEW at the All Out 2024 pay-per-view alongside RJ City and Renee Paquette, the father-son duo will be returning to AEW and will be doing much more than talking.
On social media, Befumo shared that the pair have signed a contract with AEW which will see A.J. compete in one match for Tony Khan’s promotion.
“I am wrestling one more match and it will be for AEW, All Elite Wrestling. We don’t know exactly where, we don’t know exactly who my opponent’s gonna be, but I am wrestling for one match at All Elite Wrestling. The contract is signed.”
A.J wrestled professionally for years as ‘The American Powerhouse’ Eric Justice, and named his son after his wrestling persona. He retired from the ring in 2005 and until his TikTok popularity exploded, had been working full-time as a regional manager for a nationwide mortgage-lending company.
The Costco Guys
A.J. Befumo and his 11-year-old son, Eric, aka Big Justice, have become viral sensations in 2024 with their TikTok food reviews of products from Costco. In recent months, the pair has garnered over 1.3 million followers on TikTok, and the videos have tens of millions of views.
Celebrities and wrestling have gone together for decades and now both AEW and the Costco Guys will be able to introduce their respective fanbases to the other side. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from AEW and its place in the world of wrestling.
Batista has revealed the best pieces of advice he got from his mentors in wrestling.
The former World Champion recently had a short conversation with The School of Hard Knocks on TikTok. He was asked about the best piece of advice he has ever got.
The Animal reflected on the time when he first got hired by WWE back in the early 2000. He mentioned that he was very afraid of pissing people off, until Triple H changed his perspective with two incredible pieces of wisdom:
“There’s been a few things, especially when I was wrestling, I had a mentor named Triple H, and it was a couple things he said to me that always stuck with me. And one of the things was, you know, when I first got there, I was so afraid, like I didn’t want to piss people off, it was a hierarchy thing, and I was so afraid of being disrespectful, or pissing somebody off. And one day he said, ‘Look, man, you want to make money or you want to make friends?’
He says ‘This is a business. You got to look at it as a business. You’re a business.’ And so I always thought about myself as my own commodity. I am my brand. And so another thing he said, he said, ‘Just always imagine that everybody’s pointing a gun at your head. it’s up to you how many bullets you give them.'”
Batista did a mini interview with The School Of Hard Knocks and my man was dropping GEMS pic.twitter.com/gsiVdKetHJ
Batista has been pretty open about his financial difficulties after leaving WWE in 2010. Despite multiple world titles in the company, the retired wrestling star found himself in a pickle. The 55-year-old wanted to pursue an acting career but he had a hard time because he couldn’t find a lot of jobs the first few years.
The Hollywood star has since found success and starred in hit franchises like Guardians of The Galaxy and Dune. Despite this, however, he tries to live beneath his means, as explained to him by The Undertaker:
“Financial advice. Best advice that I ever got, which I always offer to, especially to like professional athletes, because a lot of professional athletes they grow up, you know, not really having much. So when you get all this money dumped on you, you just want to buy everything you can afford. The best advice that I ever got was actually from the Undertaker, another wrestler.
He said, ‘always live beneath your means.’ I learned that the hard way. When I came out of wrestling, I literally lost everything. My house got foreclosed on, but I had a second opportunity to be successful in the film industry. Now that money in the bank means more to me than something that I don’t really need. Like I don’t need a Bugatti. I’d love to have a Bugatti but I’m not paying 3-5 million for a car because I don’t need one.”
Batista has not only found success for himself in the movie industry but he is also helping other wrestling stars get their foot into the door. Drew McIntyre is one such talent who has gotten a big movie role recently due to a recommendation from the MCU star.
Pete Rose, a legend of baseball who also made appearances for WWE, has died at the age of 83. Stephanie Wheatley, a spokesperson for Clark County in Nevada, confirmed on behalf of the medical examiner that Rose died Monday, September 30. Rose had appeared at an autograph show over the weekend in Nashville alongside other celebrity athletes, including fellow WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair.
Known as ‘Charlie Hustle’ of the Cincinnati Reds, Rose was arguably the most exciting player of the 1960s and 70s, and remains MLB’s all-time leader in hits with 4,256. The following decade, Rose managed the Reds and in 1989, was accused of betting on games while he played for and managed the team. After years of denying accusations, Rose admitted in 2004 that he made wagers on the team, and his permanent ban from the Hall of Fame remains a topic of debate to this day.
Pete Rose In WWE
Rose debuted in WWE at WrestleMania 14 where he mocked the hometown team of Boston, earning himself a chokeslam from Kane shortly after. The pair would run into another again at WrestleManias 15 and 16 with the Big Red Machine always getting the better of Rose.
For his work with WWE, Rose was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 on the eve of WrestleMania 20, the first celebrity inductee. It was fitting that Kane inducted the original Big Red Machine, and fortunately for Rose, the pair did not come to blows. On Twitter, WWE shared a statement on Rose’s passing.
WWE is saddened to learn that WWE Hall of Famer Pete Rose has passed away.
WWE has announced an injury to former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov that will likely keep him out of action for the rest of the year as well as the WrestleMania season next year.
On Monday’s episode of Raw, the company aired footage of the 30-year-old facing the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther in a match at this past Saturday’s house show from Columbus, Georgia.
In the commentary, they noted that Dragunov is suspected to have suffered a torn ACL and the medical team believes that he will be out of action for 6 to 9 months:
Ilja Dragunov had a successful run in WWE developmental. He started in NXT UK in January 2019 and has the credit of ending Gunther’s 2 year-long reign with the NXT UK Championship at NXT: Takeover 36 in August 2021.
He had to relinquish the title after 346 days due to a leg injury in July 2022. Dragunov joined the main NXT brand after returning from injury where he had a 200+ days run with the NXT title.
The former champion was finally called up to the main roster during the 2024 Drafts. He has competed in the King of The Ring tournament and also unsuccessfully challenged Sami Zayn for the IC title since then.
A minimum of 6 months recovery time means Dragunov will not be ring-ready until April at least. That implies he’ll be absent for the whole WrestleMania 41 season, with a high potential of missing the Show of Shows as well.
SEScoops wishes a speedy recovery to Ilja Dragunov
On the August 5, episode of Raw, Bronson Reed vowed to make a name for himself and did just that by attacking Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, flattening him with six Tsunamis. After close to two months away, Rollins is back on WWE TV and is hungry for revenge on this year’s Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner.
In the main event of the September 30, edition of WWE Raw, Reed faced Braun Strowman in the ‘Last Monster Standing’ match, which as the name suggests, was a collision of two titans of the red brand. After the ring exploded under the weight of a superplex between the two, Reed tried to get back to his feet, only to earn a stomp by the returning Rollins onto the steel steps.
Rollins’ war with Reed is far from over, judging by the finale of this week’s Monday Night Raw. The former Universal Champion has been appearing at NFL games during his time away and went viral after being ejected from the field during a Bears Vs. Colts game. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins now that the Visionary is back on WWE programming.
On February 1, WWE will host its Royal Rumble PLE from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, officially kicking off the road to WrestleMania 41. The Royal Rumble is always one of the most exciting nights on WWE’s calendar and next year’s show could see involvement from the NBA’s Tyrese Haliburton.
On Twitter, the Indiana Pacers star shared that tickets for the 2025 Royal Rumble will go on sale on Friday, November 15, with a presale beginning two days earlier. Haliburton pointed out that the Rumble is “always full of surprises” and his watching eyes emoji led some to believe that Haliburton could be planning on entering the 30-Man match.
INDY, it’s almost time! Royal Rumble tickets will be available Friday November 15th with presale beginning Wednesday November 13th. The Rumble is always full of surprises? @WWEpic.twitter.com/qsAakzsUwn
Haliburton is no stranger to WWE, having appeared on SmackDown earlier this year and came to the aid of Logan Paul in a Money in the Bank qualifying match. Unfortunately for the duo, Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks prevented Haliburton from passing the brass knuckles to Paul and the match was won by LA Knight.
More recently, Haliburton, decked in the shirt of NXT head Shawn Michaels, appeared on the September 17, 2024, edition of WWE NXT. The basketball star was seen meeting with Ava and was later part of the contract signing between NXT Champion Ethan Page and Trick Williams.
WWE and Indiana
Indiana will host the 2025 Royal Rumble but major WWE events will become a regular thing for Circle City. A massive deal between the two sides will see next year’s Royal Rumble take place in Lucas Oli Stadium, as well as a future two-night SummerSlam and two-night WrestleMania. WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has called this a “groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind partnership” between the two sides and promised “countless unforgettable moments.”
AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson has laid out a huge challenge for the upcoming Dynamite 5-year anniversary show this Wednesday night.
The wrestling veteran recently shared an Instagram video of himself meditating in a forest. He started off his promo by calling out Jon Moxley. Mox had said that Bryan’s idea of a world champion wasn’t working after turning on his BCC teammate at All Out.
Danielson responded to the former Shield member saying that as much as he’d like to face Jon in a match, he realizes that he is fighting against an idea and not a man.
The AEW Champion proclaimed that he wants to be someone who defends his title at a monumental show like the upcoming Anniversary Special and proceeded to call out Kazuchika Okada for the bout:
Bryan Danielson has called out Okada for a World title match at Dynamite this Wednesdaypic.twitter.com/GG76Cpclmw
— Anutosh Bajpai || SEScoops || Wrestling News (@AuthorAnutosh) October 1, 2024
The AEW world title match is the 4rth match announced for the October 2 episode of Dynamite. Here is the updated line up for the show:
Singles Match: Hangman Page vs. Juice Robinson
Singles Match: Britt Baker vs. Serena Deeb
AEW International Championship Match: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Ricochet
AEW World Heavyweight Championship Match: Bryan Danielson (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada
Bryan Danielson has faced Okada in two singles matches so far. He defeated the Japanese star in their first match when they collided at the Forbidden Door 2023 event.
A rematch between the two took place at WrestleKingdom 18 in January this year. Okada picked up the win this time, tying the score to 1-1.
Okada has since signed a contract with AEW, becoming a full-time member of the Elite roster. We’ll have to tune in on Wednesday to see which one of the two picks up the victory in this rubber match.
Jey Uso has been the WWE Intercontinental Champion for exactly one week and has already changed the belt. As seen below, Uso has made a noticeable change to the belt with new blue side plates:
In an emotional scene on Monday’s episode of Raw, Uso kicked off the show where he celebrated winning the title belt from Bron Breakker a week ago in the main event. This is where Uso cut a promo about how he was afforded the opportunity to open the show.
He was welcomed by a lively crowd chanting YEET as he made his way to the ring alongside his son, Jace. This is when he got emotional as he talked to a standing crowd and thanked his mother, who is his biggest supporter.
This led to the former champion coming out to interrupt, but he did so in a respectful way, congratulating him. They shook hands with a big smile on the face of Breakker. Uso praised the young star and it appeared that Bron has turned babyface for now.
Uso said that he would be a fighting champion every week if that’s what it meant. As of this writing, it’s unclear when his next title defense will come against.
Killswitch, who is one of AEW’s longer-tenured wrestlers, has suffered a medical scare.
The former Luchasaurus was rushed to the hospital over the weekend after suffering severe lung damage. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported the news on Monday evening.
The masked wrestler was taken to the hospital by his wife on Friday after he was found collapsed. Once arriving at the medical facility, tests were down, and his blood oxygen level was below 80 percent.
Per the report, doctors said that he had pneumonia in both lungs, and he was told that he was “days away” from suffering permanent lung damage. Now, he is on the road to recovery, with the expected timeline of about a month. However, as of this writing, it’s unknown how long he will be out of action and off AEW programming.
The AEW star has been part of the promotion since it launched in 2019, where he began his tenure in a tag team with Jack Perry, named Jurassic Express. Together, they won the Tag Team Titles.
In 2023, he turned heel and joined Christian Cage’s Patriarchy faction. He was last in action when he worked AEW All In London 2024, competing in a Casino Gauntlet match, where he helped Cage earn a shot at the AEW World Title.
Cody Rhodes is confident in Darby Allin’s skill set, both inside the squared circle and on the microphone as a promo guy. With such a belief in the fan favorite, he does not doubt that Allin can be a top guy for AEW.
Rhodes has been able to see Allin progress in pro wrestling as the former AEW Executive Vice President wrestled the popular star various times in the promotion before he left in February 2022 and returned to WWE. Since then, Rhodes has become a top star for WWE and won the Undisputed WWE Championship. Allin recently headlined AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam against Jon Moxley, falling short and giving up his World Title shot at WrestleDream.
While speaking on Superstar Crossover, Rhodes responded to Allin, who asked in a separate interview whether Cody thought he could be the face of AEW.
“So the answer is a guaranteed Yes, but don’t let Darby fool you. He was never insecure, and he was never not confident. Darby is almost overconfident, and that’s that’s what we do. We talk smack. We wrestle each other. This is entertainment. I don’t mind it, but sometimes your overconfidence is actually arrogance, when, in his case, instead of it being arrogance, the experience that he’s had now with Sting, the experience he’s had seeing the different changes in the company, all of that, that is the experience that you need to lead you to, where you see the clarity, and you see the moment go, ‘Hey, I can be the guy.’ Absolutely, 100% could potentially be the person.”
Rhodes said that the spot was available to more people than everyone thought, and, being that guy, has a more demanding schedule.
AEW may be looking elsewhere for the developers of its future video games following the mixed response to its inaugural game, Fight Forever, which was released on all major consoles and PC in June 2023.
While the gameplay was fun and easy to pick up, fans voiced their frustration with the lack of depth in the game, game modes, and bugs that the game had. In April 2024, it was reported that the developers were pressured to “deliver something faster than what it should’ve been,” leading to the issues.
Mike Straw of Insider Gamingreports that sources have told him the decision makers at AEW are “strongly considering” finding a new development partner moving forward as the future of the AEW games hangs in the balance.
“They [AEW] knows that things didn’t go the way they expected,” one source said. “The game was over-budget and it under delivered when it came out. It has AEW strongly considering moving to a new developer for their games.”
The promotion wants to see where else they can go with their games. Their original deal with Yuke’s called for one year of post-launch content, which included four season passes that added wrestlers, moves, game modes, and venues. Yuke’s last released a DLC game pack in July, adding Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone.
Sources told the media outlet that the primary focus is on the gaming future as a whole, and everything is on the table regarding the future. The two sides reportedly butted heads before the game was released, including problems with AEW EVP Kenny Omega, who was at the point of “hating” working with Yuke’s.
Others felt that Yuke’s was trying to “take advantage” of Omega due to his inexperience in helping with game development.
Kota Ibushi has continued to tease fans regarding his return with fellow AEW star Kenny Omega. The Japanese star dropped hints in a social media post that he and Omega will return soon. Posting a picture in boxing gloves, Ibushi revealed that their last practice session is done and said that they are now pushing hard for their return.
Kota Ibushi stated that he has a long time to fulfill his promises. He also highlighted that the scenario in AEW has changed a lot since their absence. The 42-year-old thanked for the flexibility in his contract as well. A translated caption reads:
”Last practice is over!!! We haven’t seen each other quite a bit, but this time we’ve got a hard push. Tuned up for AEW which will be soon.
I still have a long time to fulfill my promises! The scenery sure has changed, All that’s left is to do. We’re both on fire!!
Thank you for your flexible contract even though you belong. Well, there are some things I’ve done, but basically when I’m in Japan, it’s good.”
Kota Ibushi and Kenny Omega are one of the most popular tag teams and they are known as The Golden Lovers. They have been KO-D Tag Team Champions, the KO-D 6-Man Tag Team Champions, and the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
Kota Ibushi’s last appearance in AEW took place November 15th edition of AEW Dynamite last year. He joined forces with Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, and Paul Wight to defeat Brian Cage and The Don Callis Family in an eight-person Street Fight. Ibushi, who called AEW his home, is set to make his return to GLEAT for their show in Osaka on October 6th.
At All In 2024, Bryan Danielson defeat Swerve Strickland to, for the first time, capture the AEW World Championship. The victory was sensible enough both from the perspective of being one of the best all-around professional wrestlers in the world and, as many pundits framed it, as a lifetime achievement award.
Indeed, Danielson has lost many more high profile matches than he has won since signing with the company, but this victory and the subsequent announcement that he plans to retire from full-time performance when he loses the title have compelled fans to think more about his career and legacy.
One prime question about Danielson comes down to how one should compare his efforts in WWE with his time elsewhere. He was active in WWE from 2010 to 2021 as Daniel Bryan, though nearly four years of that time was lost due to what appeared to be career-ending injuries. Despite sporadically appearing in WWE, mostly as an enhancement talent, from 2000 to 2003, he spent most of his first decade of his career on the indies, though, arriving at a reputation as one of the best technical wrestlers in the world. He’s added onto that legacy with these past three years in AEW.
So which version of Danielson left the bigger mark? There’s a lot to consider.
Bryan Danielson Achieved Fame And Respect Independent OF WWE
When Daniel Bryan arrived on WWE television in 2010 as a “rookie” to be mentored by The Miz in early NXT, he garnered an unusual reaction. He was a rare star—particularly for that era—who had built a real name for himself without WWE exposure, considered by many at the time to be the best wrestler in the world not to have ever been signed with WWE. The fact that The Miz—a hated performer whose aesthetic was very “sports entertainment,” and as such the antithesis of Bryan’s ethos, only piled on the heat.
This reception was all a testament to what Bryan Danielson accomplished on the indies and, in particular, in ROH as an in-ring virtuoso with a deceptive charisma that had allowed him to connect with fans at a high level.
Danielson has only added to this legacy in AEW, including instant classic matches with Kenny Omega, MJF, Swerve Strickland, and plenty of others. Few and far between are the wrestlers who’ve gotten over at the highest level in absolutely every environment they’ve set foot in. Danielson is that guy.
Daniel Bryan Was A WrestleMania Main Eventer
Via WWE
There are a lot milestones that define the most successful wrestlers in the world. Winning a world title anywhere—but particularly where the lights are on brightest in WWE—is an accomplishment. Winning a world title in the final match of a WrestleMania is on the next level, though—a very specific feat only eighteen performers have ever accomplished. Indeed, there’s a real case that this feat is what separates the defining characters of WWE lore from more experimental world champs like Jinder Mahal or Jack Swagger.
Bryan is on that list with a showing that arguably belongs on the Mount Rushmore of greatest WrestleMania main event performances. That’s not to mention that he also main evented in a losing effort seven years later, and worked two other ‘Mania world title matches across his tenure.
While, as Bryan Danielson, he also worked and won a historic All In main event in front of over 80,000 people, it remains difficult to put that kind of accomplishment on part with headlining WrestleMania given how iconic that show’s brand has grown over the last four decades.
Bryan Danielson And Daniel Bryan Have Both Had Great Matches
(via AEW)
One consistent factor for Bryan Danielson and Daniel Bryan is that, across the board, he has produced great matches. In WWE he more than held his own in some of the best matches stars ranging from John Cena to Triple H to Randy Orton to Roman Reigns ever had.
Before signing with WWE, though, Danielson built a reputation on classics with the likes of Nigel McGuinness, KENTA, and Takeshi Morishima. In AEW, his best bouts include outings with Zack Sabre Jr., Will Ospreay, and Adam Page.
There’s a case to be made Danielson’s greatest ring work, from a purist’s perspective, came outside WWE, but his ability to bring a more technical and stiff style to the masses in WWE—including opposite some opponents less known for work rate–represents an accomplishment all its own.
Daniel Bryan Reached A Larger Audience
At the end of the day, evaluating whether Daniel Bryan or Bryan Danielson has the greater legacy comes down to personal opinion given both were great and, of course, it was ultimately the same performer responsible for both, and it’s impossible to completely disentangle one from the other.
Nonetheless, at the end of the day it does matter that Daniel Bryan performed in front of a larger sustained audience. That’s important for his reach and accessibility. It also matters for just how impressive it was for an undersized “work rate guy” with an non-traditional personality for wrestling to get over at the highest level in WWE, and particularly when it was still under Vince McMahon’s creative leadership with his more specific vision for what a superstar should look like.
Call him Daniel Bryan. Call him Bryan Danielson. At the end of the day, the man belongs in the conversation among the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, and it’s fitting that fans of different aesthetics, who follow different promotions, all have large bodies of work to appreciate from him.
WWE has announced ticket information for next year’s Royal Rumble event, scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025 from Indianapolis, IN at Lucas Oil Stadium. Additionally, WWE has confirmed the Rumble is scheduled to begin at 6pm ET/3 pm PT.
Here’s the official press release sent in to SEScoops:
TICKETS FOR ROYAL RUMBLE®2025 IN INDIANAPOLIS ON SALE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Royal Rumble Ticket Presale Begins Wednesday, November 13 at 10am ET/7am PT
September 30, 2024 – WWE®, part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO), today announced tickets for Royal Rumble® 2025, which takes place Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, will go on sale Friday, November 15 at 10am ET/7am PT via ticketmaster.com.
Presale for Royal Rumble tickets will begin Wednesday, November 13 at 10am ET/7am PT. Fans can register now to receive an exclusive presale offer by visiting wwe.com/royalrumble-2025-presale.
Additionally, Royal Rumble Priority Pass ticket packages will soon be available from On Location, offering fans the chance to be ringside for every exhilarating moment including premium seating, pre-show hospitality with WWE Superstar appearances, ringside photo opportunities and more. To place a deposit or sign up for exclusive presale access, please visit onlocationexp.com/royalrumble.
Kicking off with Royal Rumble on February 1, 2025, Indianapolis will host WWE’s three largest stadium events at Lucas Oil Stadium, includingWrestleMania and a two-night SummerSlam, in future years as part of a first-of-its-kind partnership struck between WWE and Indiana Sports Corp earlier this year.
Additionally, Raw, SmackDown, NXT and WWE live events will emanate from arenas across Indiana, including Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Evansville throughout the partnership.
The 2025 WWERoyal Rumble streams live in the U.S. exclusively on Peacock beginning at 6pm ET/3 pm PT.
WWE Hall of Famer Lilian Garcia recently revealed why she decided to part ways with WWE in 2016. Speaking with Ten Count Media, Garcia revealed an emotional story of her father’s illness which led to her departure. In March 2015, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer, which forced her to move him in with her for treatment. The hospital near his home in South Carolina had run out of options and she brought him to California for treatments.
“My father got really sick, and I took care of him. We found out at the end of 2015 that he’s got bladder cancer, and I moved him in with me because the hospital in South Carolina where he lived had run out of options. I moved him in with me [in] March of 2016, and he was going to City of Hope, and they were trying all sorts of different experiments on him.”
In 2016, she and her family were informed that her father had limited time left. The former ring announcer had to put an end to her WWE career to be with her father. Her father passed away on Christmas Day in 2016. Lilian Garcia reflected on her decision to step away and said that she would have continued working with WWE if the situation was in her favor. However, she doesn’t regret her choice and she knows she made the right decision.
“And then it was in August of 2016 that they said to us, they didn’t tell him we wanted to keep it away from him. But they told my sister and I that he had two weeks to three months to live, and I just knew I couldn’t get back on a plane.
I knew that was it my sister and I went full on caretaking for him, and he ended up lasting five months. But he passed on Christmas Day in 2016, and I still look back, and I know I made the right decision.”
Garcia is one of the legendary WWE ring announcers and she joined the company back in 1999. She was also involved in a handful of storylines during her time with the company. She first departed the company in 2009 but returned a couple of years later. She then had a run for five more years with the company. She is currently announcing for the Professional Fighters League (PFL), an MMA league launched in 2018. Garcia also runs a podcast, Chasing Glory.
