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WWE SmackDown Preview: Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes, Cody Rhodes & Logan Paul Contract Signing

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The Quarterfinals of WWE’s King and Queen of the Ring tournaments continue tonight on WWE SmackDown from Jacksonville, Florida. Just 8 days out from next Saturday’s PLE, tonight’s show will be focused almost entirely on the event. 

WWE SmackDown Preview (5/17)

Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes is actually happening

WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and United States Champion Logan Paul will officially sign the contract for their ‘winner takes all’ clash at the Jeddah Dome. Don’t be surprised to see a table flipped or someone struck with a chair, as these contract signings rarely go off without a hitch.

Queen of the Ring Quarterfinals Matches

  • Jade Cargill vs. Nia Jax
  • Bianca Belair vs. Tiffany Stratton

King of the Ring Quarterfinals Matches

  • Randy Orton vs. Carmelo Hayes
  • Tama Tonga vs. LA Knight

Tickets for tonight’s WWE SmackDown from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville are still available at Ticketmaster.

Catch up on the Top 10 moments from last week:

Rey Mysterio Will Retire When His Best Is Not Enough

Thomas Lowson
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Rey Mysterio doesn’t have an exact date for when he’ll hang up his boots and mask but knows the exact circumstances when it’ll be time to walk away from the ring. 

At 49 years old, Mysterio is one of the oldest Superstars on WWE’s active roster and is well aware that his career is in the final legs of its journey. Speaking on Rampage Jackson’s JAXXON podcast, Mysterio didn’t give a specific date but believes he’ll retire if he ever stops worrying about giving his absolute best. 

“Every night [I worry about my performance] Even when it’s non-televised, I still get that jittering feeling like, ‘S***; I don’t want to f*** up. I want to make sure everything comes out right.’ I always tell myself, the day I no longer feel that, that’s the time to tap out.”

Rey Mysterio On Retirement

As a WWE Hall of Famer and arguably the most successful masked wrestler in WWE history, Mysterio has very little to prove in his remaining years in the ring. In March 2023, the Ultimate Underdog said he does not plan on wrestling past the age of 50. Rey will hit the milestone number this December. 

Though Rey’s career in the ring will be ending in the relatively near future, his time in WWE won’t be over after he hangs up his boots. Rey signed a five-year deal with WWE in 2023 that should keep him around until he is 54 years old. It is possible that Mysterio could wrestle past 50 and if not, WWE would no-doubt benefit from keeping Mysterio around in some kind of backstage role, possibly as a trainer in WWE NXT. 

Rey Mysterio began his professional wrestling career in Mexico at a very young age. His debut match took place in 1989 when he was just 14.

Joe Hendry Fan Shows Their Support With Tattoo Of Popular TNA Wrestling Star

Thomas Lowson
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A fan of TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry has proven to be a man of their word by getting a tattoo of the popular Scottish wrestler. 

The fan, known as never_did on Twitter, said he would get a tattoo of Hendry if the man himself retweeted his post. When Hendry did just that, never_did wasted no time in booking an appointment at a local tattoo parlor. 

True to his word, never_did got the tattoo which he revealed in an update on Twitter. While never_did initially planned to have the ink on his bicep, the artist suggested for it to be on his shoulder. This tattoo reveal also received a retweet by the TNA Wrestling star. 

I Believe In Joe Hendry

Hendry, a former TNA Digital Media Champion, has grown immensely popular with fans thanks in part to his popular self-produced songs that often parody his opponents, Hendry’s theme song I Believe in Joe Hendry recently dominated the music charts and made it to #1 on the UK iTunes charts, beating the likes of Hozier and Taylor Swift. 

Hendry’s success with his song can’t be denied, with non-wrestling fans growing increasingly aware of him. This will no doubt bode well for Hendry’s prospects in the ring, with TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray even stating that TNA would be wise to consider a title run given Hendry’s popularity. 

Update On Asuka’s Knee Injury

Aaron Varble
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WWE Superstars put their bodies on the line for the entertainment of fans every time they step into the ring. Unfortunately, injuries are a regular part of the job and virtually nobody is exempt. Earlier this week, Asuka announced she’s been dealing with a knee injury and we’ve got an update that underscores the importance of this decision.

Approximately two months ago, we covered when Asuka ‘tweaked’ her knee on WWE SmackDown. She’s wrestled a lot since then, which gave us a sense of optimism that she might be able to avoid time off. Unfortunately, the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirms it’s the same injury that persists.

Now that she’s gotten through WrestleMania 40 and Backlash France, where she and Kairi Sane dropped the Women’s tag titles, Asuka will take some time to recuperate and get back to 100%.

More WWE Injuries

WWE Superstars regularly work through injuries, especially during WrestleMania season. Here are some additional wrestlers currently out of action for various reasons:

Charlotte Flair: Torn ACL, MCL, & Meniscus, out since December 8, 2023, return timeline 9 months.

Erik: Neck Fusion Surgery, injury date September 2023, recovery time unknown.

Sonya Deville: Torn ACL, injury date July 28, 2023, recovery time 6 – 12 months.

Seth Rollins: Suffered a Grade 2 MCL tear and a partially torn meniscus in his left knee in January. He underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus on April 16.

Ivar: Storyline injury due to a backstage attack on NXT, to give the Viking Raider some time off.

CM Punk: Successfully underwent surgery to repair torn triceps, stopped using brace, mobility improving through recovery and physical therapy.

Alexa Bliss: Pregnancy, out since February 2023, return timeline unknown.

Big E: Broken neck (fractured C1 and C6 vertebrae) that did not require surgery, injury date March 11, 2022. The former WWE Champion has dropped hints that he may never wrestle again.

Carmella: Pregnancy, out since March 2023, currently dealing with drop foot syndrome.

Latest On Viking Raider Ivar Being Pulled Indefinitely from WWE Programming

Thomas Lowson
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More has come to light about Viking Raider Ivar and why the former Tag Team Champion has been pulled indefinitely from all programming. 

With his tag-team partner Erik recovering from neck fusion surgery, Ivar has had an impressive singles run on Monday Night Raw and more recently WWE NXT. At the recent Spring Breakin’ event, Ivar challenged for the NXT North American Championship, his first singles title opportunity since coming to WWE in 2018. 

Ivar Pulled From Plans

During the taping of next week’s episode of WWE NXT, Ivar was not part of the triple threat number one contenders match he had been scheduled to participate in. Shortly after the taping, WWE revealed that due to an attack by Gallus, Ivar had been medically disqualified from competition and was out of action indefinitely. 

Now, more has come to light about Ivar’s situation. On Twitter, the Andrews Sports Medicine account shared their appreciation to Ivar for placing his trust in the hands of their surgical team. The post also had the hashtag #Spine, suggesting Ivar has undergone surgery on his spine.

Andrews Sports Medicine

Ivar is certainly in good hands with Andrews Sports Medicine as some of WWE’s top Superstars have gone under the knife in the Alabama-based institute. Triple H, Cody Rhodes, and John Cena have all had surgery through Andrew Sports Medicine. In fact, Ivar’s tag-team partner Erik made the trip to Alabama last year for his neck fusion surgery. At this time, there’s no word on when either Viking is expected back in the ring. 

Uncle Howdy Hijacks WWE Twitch Stream

Aaron Varble
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Something is happening on WWE television. The glitches and QR codes continue, hinting at a new force on the way. These interruptions have spread across RAW, SmackDown and NXT. Now, even WWE’s digital programming is being affected.

During a stream on WWE’s Twitch channel, glitches appeared as Lilian Garcia introduced Kane to the ring. The disturbances caused static, and Garcia’s voice was manipulated to say “Wyatt.” As Kane made his way to the ring, the screen glitched again. A serene setting with an ominous chair in a corner was shown. The stationary shot remained unchanged, with no one else visible in the frame. The screen then flashed back to the old WWE program in progress. In the end, the takeover lasted about thirty minutes, with interruptions like this throughout that period of time. 

At the end of the takeover, a woman was shown in the chair. She had a book and was asking the camera “what does this represent?” as she showed off something drawn on the page. The camera then flashed to a news article of a missing reporter.

WWE teased Bo Dallas’ return at the end of the “Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal” documentary, making it clear that something is coming. Fans have been analyzing the cryptic clues, waiting for what lies ahead.

Bo Dallas’ Upcoming Stable

Bo Dallas played Uncle Howdy during Bray Wyatt’s final run. Sadly, Windham Rotunda passed away, and we will never see what they had planned. Now a new chapter is beginning.

Four names are currently expected to be in the new faction. Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy, and Erick Rowan are all slated to join the new Wyatt Family.

Each Superstar has previous experience in factions: Cross with Sanity, Gacy leading The Schism, Lumis as part of The Way, and Rowan as an original member of The Wyatt Family. It will be interesting to see how they fit into the picture once the new stable officially debuts on WWE television. 

Rey Mysterio Believes Separating From Him Was The Best Thing That Could Have Happened To Dominik

Anutosh Bajpai
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Having a famous father is a double-edged sword for a performer trying to make his name in the same profession. On one hand, it can get you early opportunities but also create an unfavorable perception of you in people’s minds from the start. This is why Rey Mysterio believes that separating from him was the best thing for Dominik.

The wrestling veteran recently appeared on the JAXXON PODCAST where he discussed things such as the importance of his mask, his WCW career and more.

Rey also spoke about the struggles his son Dominik Mysterio had to face early in his career because of the comparison to his Hall of Famer father:

“The career that I’ve had, the longevity. [I] started at the age of 14. I’m 49 now. So I’ve been grinding for the past 35 years in this business, this profession.

For my son to come in out of nowhere and not have my style, have a different build. he’s 6’1. He’s about 190. So it was just, it was very hard for him at the beginning to try to adapt and find his role as a wrestler.

The comparisons were, they were made and of course, he couldn’t live up to ’em. Not until we separated and he continued on his own path without having his dad by his side. And that was the best thing that could have ever happened to him.”

Dominik Mysterio started making regular appearances on WWE programming alongside his dad back in 2019. His first official match for the company came at SummerSlam 2020 and the father-son duo even went on to win the SmackDown tag team titles in 2021.

Though the evolution of the young star really started when he turned on Rey Mysterio at the 2022 Clash At The Castle event. He subsequently joined the Judgement Day faction. This move made him one of the most hated wrestlers in all of sports entertainment and helped him develop an identity completely opposite to his legendary father.

Latest On Gable Steveson’s NFL Hopes Following WWE Release

Aaron Varble
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Olympic Gold medalist Gable Steveson may be headed to the National Football League. The former WWE Developmental prospect was quietly released from his contract last month after his wrestling career failed to launch. 

Steveson recently met with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and even had a tryout for the team, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter. He’s expected to meet with several other NFL teams in the weeks and months ahead. 

This crossover to the gridiron is especially notable because Gable didn’t even play high school football. However, he wouldn’t be alone there, as never even played high school football. WWE has been scouting collegiate athletes through its Next In Line series program, but now we’re seeing NFL teams recruiting players with little-to-no prior experience as well 

Gable Steveson’s WWE Journey

Many believed that Gable Steveson had a bright future ahead of him in WWE. To support his development, the company even established a remote training facility, allowing him to hone his skills while completing his studies at the University of Minnesota.

He was given a few big-time spots during WWE premium live events, including WrestleMania 38, but fans didn’t latch onto him as expected. Instead, they seemed to push back against the Olympian’s forced push.

In 2022, an ablation was performed on his heart to treat Wolff-Parkinson-White, and Gable took time off to recover, but he soon got back to training. He was given all the tools to succeed, but they couldn’t put things together and make them work.

As WWE’s first-ever NIL signing, Steveson’s struggle to succeed in the company underscores the unique and demanding skill set required to thrive in professional wrestling. His match against Baron Corbin at NXT’s Great American Bash highlighted this challenge, as the crowd’s chants of “You’re Not Angle” referenced the frequent comparisons made between Steveson and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle. These chants served as a reminder of the high expectations and distinct abilities needed to excel in the wrestling world.

We’d like to wish Gable Steveson the best in his future NFL ventures, or wherever his path takes him.

Ex-Cop Charged With Murder Over Atlanta Wrestler’s Tragic Death

Bishal Roy
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Atlanta-based wrestler Reginald Folks was allegedly killed by a former Atlanta Police officer, Koby Minor, who had been charged with murder and aggravated assault following the tragic incident. 

The New Jersey native moved to Atlanta in 2007 to attend Clark Atlanta University. The 35-year-old had been pursuing his passion for pro wrestling as he trained at World Wrestling Alliance 4 in Atlanta in South Fulton.

Reginald Folks

The incident

Minor claimed that a ride-share driver picked him up at an Atlanta police officer’s home. He revealed to the cops that they were traveling east on SR 14 and the driver was speaking on the phone in an unknown language. The former APD officer stated that he wasn’t sure what was said on the call.

Minor said that the driver (Reginald Folks) didn’t stop the car when he was instructed to. Minor eventually tried to unlock the door but he couldn’t. According to the accused, the driver even tried to reach to the back seat. Minor then dropped a stunning claim saying that he wasn’t sure whether the driver was gay. The former officer was unable to see the driver’s other hand. Growing suspicious, Minor reached for his gun and “fired approximately three rounds” which allegedly killed the driver. He then somehow broke the window and got out of the car.

Ahead of the police’s arrival, Minor “waved down” another driver on the road for help and told that “the Lyft driver was in a gay fraternity and was trying to recruit” Minor into it. 

Arrest

Koby Minor

The Union City Police Department apprehended Koby Minor of Morrow as the officers responded to a shooting call near South Fulton Parkway and Stonewall Tell Road at approximately 12:40 a.m. After reaching the spot, they found an unresposive victim, who was later identified as Reginald Folks. 

Atlanta PD has reported that Minor, who was hired in 2018 resigned immediately immediately. He was on unpaid administrative leave when the incident happened as he was arrested on drug-related charges in Milton in December last year. 

Family and friends ‘Devastated’

Reginald’s mother Marchelle Folks has said that she had not spoken to the cops sine the incident and had a lot of questions. 

“Had no idea it was a cop that killed him, not until someone sent us the article,” Folks told FOX 5. “It’s devastating and on top of it, a black police officer is even worse to me.”

The 35-year-old’s fellow wrestlers are also confused and devastated. 

“Devastated and confused, my main emotion. I can’t understand it still,” said trainer Thomas Ballister.

Jason Spector, victim’s friend and fellow wrestler said: 

“It’s tragic that this is how it had to be for him, that he had to go out this way.”

We at SEScoops send our prayers and condolences to Reginald Folk’s family and friends during this tough times.

Report: Plans for World Heavyweight Title Match at WWE Clash At The Castle

Thomas Lowson
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The upcoming WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland event will see one of the nation’s top Superstars compete in a World Title match, it has been reported.

Clash At The Castle: Scotland will be the promotion’s first Premium Live Event in the country. The show will take place from the OVO Hydro arena on June 15, with a WWE SmackDown taping scheduled to take place at the same venue the previous evening. 

Given his standing as a main event and with this event being in Scotland, many are anticipating a huge role for Drew McIntyre at the event. That will be the case as McIntyre will challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship in his home country, Dave Meltzer reports. 

While not confirmed on WWE TV just yet, seeds are already being planted for a showdown between McIntyre and World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. On the May 13, episode of Raw, Priest and McIntyre came face-to-face in the ring. The segment ended with Priest promising McIntyre a title match. The pair did not specify when the match would take place. 

McIntyre vs. Priest

Of course, any plans for McIntyre to compete rely on him being cleared to wrestle. An elbow injury suffered during WrestleMania 40 has kept the three-time World Champion out of action and also resulted in McIntyre being pulled from the ongoing King of the Ring tournament. 

McIntyre Vs. Priest may indeed be the plan for Clash At The Castle: Scotland, but the World Heavyweight Champion isn’t the only person on Drew’s mind. Despite his torn triceps injury, CM Punk has continued his feud with Drew McIntyre and recently teased showing up to Glasgow (perhaps inside of a haggis) to confront McIntyre. Drew has responded by saying if Punk does show up to Clash At The Castle: Scotland, he won’t be leaving in one piece. 

Chris Hemsworth On Hulk Hogan Biopic: “Nothing Official Yet”

Bishal Roy
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Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth has provided an update on WWE legend Hulk Hogan’s biopic which is slated to be directed by Todd Phillips.

Hemsworth is set to star in the upcoming Furiosa: A Max Max Saga. While discussing his new project, he is gave a tidbit about the Hulk Hogan biopic and it is upsetting for the fans. Speaking with Screenrant, Hemsworth said it would be an honor to work with Todd Phillips, but he’s not sure the project is actually happening. He says it’s been an interesting situation waiting for the ‘green light.’

“To work with Todd Phillips, who we discussed making that film with, would be an honor and a fantastic opportunity. I can’t say it’s officially happening yet. If there was a green light, I’d get to work on it. But it’s interesting. Dementus’ vocal quality was something I could invent and it would be surprising to people, but there wouldn’t be any judgment or comparison.

It’s a tricky thing to play a real-life character. I’ve done it once before, and people immediately have the measuring stick out and the critiques and so on. It’d be nerve-wracking, but if there’s a great script and a story to tell, I’d love to jump into it. But there’s nothing official at this point.“

Earlier this week, actor/wrestler Paul Walter Hauser spoke about wanting to portray hardcore legend Mick Foley and expressed similar concerns about that setup. Hauser has been approached to play several wrestlers over the years, but he’s only interested if the story resonates with him.

Hulk Hogan is one of the greatest superstars to ever grace the squared circle and transformed the pro wrestling industry like very few others have. In recent years, his fame has nearly been overshadowed by his various personal personal controversies.

This Hulk Hogan project has been in development for over five years. It was first announced back in February 2019, with Chris Hemsworth attached as the lead. Helmsworth has spoken about the role, but it’s now mid-2024 and we’re wondering if this thing will ever get made.

Konosuke Takeshita Says He Has Stopped Having Fun In Wrestling Since Moving To America

Anutosh Bajpai
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Konosuke Takeshita has opened up about his struggles as a Japanese wrestler trying to make his mark on an American wrestling program.

The 28-year-old recently spoke to DDT Pro to promote his upcoming match with Minoru Suzuki at Referee Matsui’s 30th-anniversary produce show on May 19th.

During the interview, the AEW star opened up about his struggles in America. He mentioned that he thought hard work would get him the spot he desired in the company. There have been aspects at play, however, that have gone against him:

“Discrimination is not the word here but unfortunately there’s a lack of space for an Asian person to be on a TV show watched by Americans. No matter how good my condition was nor the amount of matches I was put it, or how many times they said my match was good, it felt like I couldn’t make it in the starting lineup, to put it in Baseball terms.”

I Didn’t Feel The Enjoyment: Konosuke Takeshita

Takeshita also discussed the effect these conditions have had on his psyche. He explained that everyone wrestling in Japan felt like they were having fun, which isn’t necessarily the case in US:

“I didn’t had any fun wrestling ever since I got to America. The effort was bearing fruit, but I didn’t feel the enjoyment. It was the most mentally exhausting period in all 12 years of my wrestling career. However when I stopped having fun, my matches were better received and I gained more recognition. And its not proportional.”

The young star later took his Twitter to clarify this part of the interview. He explained that he is taking the current phase of his career as a challenge:

Konosuke Takeshita was considered one of the most promising prospects when he made his AEW debut in 2021. His matches with people such as Hangman Page and Eddie Kingston helped showcase his talent and led to his official signing with Tony Khan’s promotion in late 2022.

Since signing a contract with the promotion, however, things have not gone the way he had hoped. While Takeshita has continued delivering impressive performances in the ring, the lack of character development and the company’s backstage troubles have stopped the Japanese star from being featured as prominently as he had hoped.

Takeshita has most recently been announced to face Jon Moxley in the IWGP World Title Eliminator Tournament at the upcoming Double or Nothing PPV. You can check out the full card for the show here. 

WWE Hits A Snag Securing A Lucrative Trademark For Becky Lynch

Aaron Varble
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Becky Lynch has used several nicknames throughout her WWE career, including The Man, which she used during her meteoric rise to the top of WWE. More recently, she’s been going by Big Time Becks, a moniker that takes the confidence of ‘The Man’ and turns the dial up a bit father into the realm of cockiness. Her on-screen character has evolved seamlessly, but ‘Big Time Becks’ may be getting phased out due to WWE’s inability to secure a trademark for the IP.

WWE filed to trademark “Big Time Becks” in September 2021, but this application faced opposition from someone else who felt the name infringed on a mark they had the rights to. Legal proceedings have been ongoing, and the trademark remains listed as “pending” due to these unresolved issues.

‘Big Time’ Roadblock

Here’s a timeline of events that led to WWE’s current legal predicament:

  • In September 2021, WWE filed to trademark “Big Time Becks,” Becky Lynch’s nickname during her heel run.
  • The trademark faced opposition nine days after the filing, with ongoing legal proceedings as recent as April 1, according to public records. A discovery conference was ordered in March.
  • The board recommended using the Accelerated Case Resolution process. Initial disclosures were due May 3, with the process potentially extending to August 2025.
  • According to the motion document, WWE was aware of the Opposer’s “Bigtime” trademark since 2006, when they received a cease and desist.
  • In September 2021, WWE filed the “Big Time Becks” mark. Opposer communicated opposition within nine days.
  • WWE was aware of the opposition and engaged in settlement discussions but did not follow up after March 2022.
  • Opposer filed two Letters of Protest and initiated Opposition Proceedings in November 2023 and WWE missed the deadline for filing an answer to the opposition.
  • WWE claimed the Christmas Day deadline caused the delay, but Opposer argues this is implausible given WWE’s resources and prior notifications.
  • The trademark remains listed as “pending” due to the ongoing legal proceedings.

Previous Nickname Controversies

This isn’t the first time Lynch’s nicknames have faced opposition. Ric Flair previously laid claim to “The Man,” expressing issues with WWE using that moniker for Lynch.

Ric Flair and Becky Lynch’s conflict began in late 2021. Flair accused Lynch of using the nickname “The Man” without his permission. Lynch dismissed the accusation, calling Flair “sad” at one point. This feud was intense but never became a WWE storyline. The behind-the-scenes drama was as engaging as the on-screen action.

Both sides have since reconciled. Becky Lynch and Ric Flair are now on cordial speaking terms. They eventually resolved the matter, and Lynch continues to use “The Man” nickname. You can read all about this settled beef right here:

“This is Insane”- Drew McIntyre Thanks CM Punk For Bringing Out The Worst In HIm

Bishal Roy
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Drew McIntyre is thankful to his arch-nemesis CM Punk for their epic promo segment ahead of WrestleMania 40.

On the March 25 edition of Raw, McIntyre, CM Punk, and then-WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins traded personal shots. The segment gained traction due to Punk coercing McIntyre to mention Vince McMahon, who is not mentioned anymore in WWE due to allegations. This happened after the Scotsman referred to himself as ‘The Chosen One,’ the nickname that McMahon gave him.

Punk is one of the best talkers in WWE and he possesses commendable promo skills. Speaking with Alex McCarthy of Mail Sport, McIntyre thanked Punk for the segment and said that he knew that the former WWE Champion would bring his ‘A-game’ during the exchange. He said:

“I have to thank him for that I guess. One thing I can thank him for. If he’s got that microphone you know he’s bringing his A-game and perhaps the first time we were in the ring together he was still finding his feet being back in WWE. I think he realized – I know he realized, I could see it in his eyes – this isn’t the same Drew and I had his number the first time we were in the ring together, and I stomped his stupid little arm.”

‘Guns loaded’

‘The Scottish Warrior’ realized that CM Punk would bring his prime version of himself in the battle and the former kept his artillery ready. McIntyre is grateful for the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with Punk on the mic and admitted that the “insane” segment escalated quickly. He said:

“The second time, I could see it in his eyes, ‘Right, I’m back, I’ve got all my guns loaded,’ and this is the CM Punk of old. And I knew I could either step up to his level or I can drown and I don’t belong at his level. So it was cool to have that opportunity to go back and forth and have people go, ‘Oh my god, this is insane.’ When you thought it couldn’t get anymore insane it kept escalating and escalating. You have to be quick on your feet and you have to know exactly who you are in this industry if you’re going to compete at the top level.”

McIntyre once again thanked Punk for the segment and even praised the addition of Seth Rollins. He said:

“So I can say thank you to him for showing in that segment everybody that said well, Drew just went to-to-toe with Punk in his prime, on fire. And Seth also added to that segment in what has become something of a legendary segment. It’s all people talk to me about recently.”

While CM Punk recuperates from a torn tricep injury, McIntyre is sidelined with an elbow injury. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ was set to face The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor in the first round of The King of The Ring tournament. 

However, he was not medically cleared and was replaced by Jey Uso, who punched his ticket to the next round. CM Punk and Drew McIntyre will lock horns at a later date and reports suggest that it might be at SummerSlam in August.

AEW To Host Five Collision Tapings In Arlington, Texas In Lead Up to All In: London 2024

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s road to the company’s second-ever All In pay-per-view will see the roster stay in Arlington, Texas for a series of Collision tapings. 

In a statement released by AEW, it was confirmed that the city will host five Collision tapings at the Esports Stadium, starting with the July 20 show. Not only that, but the deal ensures that Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor 2024 will also happen in the Esports Stadium on Friday, July 26. 

AEW President and CEO Tony Khan was excited about the deal with Arlington. 

“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Arlington for AEW’s first-ever events at Esports Stadium. This AEW summer series will add to the rich legacy of major professional wrestling events held in the great state of Texas and serve as the ultimate springboard for AEW: All In London.”

Arlington Sports Commission Executive Director Matt Wilson was similarly excited to host the Collision tapings in the city. 

“We are honored to team with Tony Khan and All Elite Wrestling for this incredible opportunity. The ability to host TNT’s wildly popular AEW: Collision program is another milestone achievement to bring worldwide events to Arlington and shine a global weekly spotlight on our beautiful city.”

Five episodes of AEW Collision will air from the Esports Stadium. 

This is a much different move from AEW’s usual method of weekly touring and will mark the longest period that an AEW show has stayed in one place since the pandemic. At this time, no matches have been confirmed for All In: London 2024, but the show has already seen over 40,000 tickets sold for Wembley Stadium. 

More information about the upcoming AEW Collision episodes in Arlington, including how to purchase them, can be found at AEWTix.com

Gunther Addresses Reports of Scrapped Brock Lesnar WrestleMania Match

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Gunther isn’t sure if a Brock Lesnar match is in the cards for him anymore.

There were strong rumors before WrestleMania 40 that The Ring General was on his way to face The Beast Incarnate in a big showdown at the Grandest Stage of Them All. The company had planned to build this rivalry up starting at the 2024 Royal Rumble.

All plans for the former Universal Champion, however, were scrapped by the creative team when Lesnar was linked to the Vince McMahon sex trafficking lawsuit.

The former IC Champion addressed the rumors about his planned match with Lesnar at WrestleMania in an interview with DailyMail. Gunther claimed that he also heard something about it:

The Ring General explained that he has always been presented as the final boss in different phases of his WWE career, whether it be his run as the UK Champion or the most recent IC title reign. Brock Lesnar similarly was the final boss of the whole WWE for a long time. To reach the position the former UFC champion was in, the Austrian star has to get in the ring with him.

I’m More Than Up For It: Gunther

(Photo: WWE)

Gunther also discussed the potential of a future showdown between the two. He noted that he is not informed about the current status of Brock with the company, but he is more than ready for something like that if it comes his way:

“We’ll see if there’s a chance for it to happen again. I’m more than up for it. How the situation is exactly right now, I’m really not that informed about it, to be honest. I think we had that one face off in the Royal Rumble, the reaction that was there and that was a confirmation for me.”

Triple H confirmed during the post-WrestleMania 40 press conference that Brock Lesnar was not done with the company and was just resting at home.

Considering the gravity of the accusations against Vince McMahon, it’s very much possible that we may never see Brock Lesnar on WWE TV again if he gets implicated in the proceedings of the case in any way.

Though the company is certainly keeping their options open by not completely cutting ties with Brock the same way they have done with the former chairman of the boards. So there is a distinct possibility that he could return to act as ‘The Final Boss’ for Gunther down the line.

WWE-Nike Bloodline-Inspired Air Jordan Sneakers Coming In January 2025

Thomas Lowson
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Sneaker fans worldwide will be able to acknowledge Roman Reigns and The Bloodline with a new set of shoes set to launch next year. 

The new shoes are black with blood-red stylings, according to mock-up photos shared by Sneaker News. The shows will be available at select Jordan Brand retailers in-store, online, and at Nike.com. The snazzy new footwear will retail for $200 USD. 

The new Bloodline-inspired Sneakers will retail for $200 USD. 

Roman Reigns & Sneakers

The Tribal Chief’s love of sneakers is no secret. In matches, Reigns often wears sneakers instead of traditional wrestling footwear. Speaking to Complex in 2021, Reigns recalled wearing Jordans when he announced that his leukemia was in remission in 2019. 

“I felt so much confidence… That was one of those situations where I was able to come out of the Roman character and just be Joe. And that’s why you saw me the way I was. That’s why I was wearing the Jordans. Just kind of a casual look. For the most part for the Roman character, especially earlier on I stayed in the fatigues and the boots and stuff like that. But from that moment, I took that character armor off and exposed the real me.”

Roman Reigns Out of the Ring

The former Universal Champion hasn’t been seen on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 but he’s not been taking it easy. The Tribal Chief has been shooting a heist movie that’ll include Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and others. 

While Reigns is off WWE TV, his presence continues to be felt. In his absence, Solo Sikoa has become the new leader of a new Bloodline that includes Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa. Paul Heyman has been noticeably concerned about the change that Sikoa has claimed that the order to take leadership of the faction came from Reigns himself. 

AEW Collision Spoilers For Saturday, May 18th

Thomas Lowson
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Fans were in store for a stacked AEW Collision taping this week as the promotion continues on the road to AEW Double or Nothing. 

On AEW Dynamite, Darby Allin made his return to programming to be revealed as the fourth man for Team AEW at the upcoming pay-per-view. The quartet of Allin, Bryan Danielson, and FTR will face The Elite in Anarchy In The Arena at Double or Nothing. 

AEW Collision Spoilers [5/18/2024]

Here are the spoilers for the May 18, edition of AEW Collision: 

  • Will Ospreay defeated Shane Taylor. Post-match, Roderick Strong and The Undisputed Kingdom attacked Ospreay but he took out Mike Bennett and Matt Taven and escaped unscathed
  • Bryan Danielson & FTR defeated Lance Hoyt and The Righteous. The Righteous attacked Dax Harwood with a steel chair after the match and Archer hit Blackout on a chair on Cash Wheeler. Danielson and Daniel Garcia made the save. 
  • Orange Cassidy pinned Brother Zay. Trent Beretta was at ringside and was interviewed after the match. Trent challenged Cassidy to a ‘wrestling match’ at Double or Nothing, saying Cassidy had cheated to beat him in the past. Cassidy and Beretta scuffled before being pulled apart. 
  • Hook defeated Johnny TV with Taya Valkyrie
  • Katsuyori Shibata defeated Rocky Romero

Bryan Keith defeated Beefcake Boulder of the Iron Savages

  • A segment took place that saw Jay White and The Gunns on the stage with a beaten PAC. 
  • Serena Deeb defeated Anna Jay. ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm stole the flag for Deeb’s dojo and Storm undressed behind it, wrapping herself in it to disrespect Deeb.
  • Nick Wayne defeated Jack Cartwheel

This was the order of the matches as they were taped. It is possible that they could air in a different order when AEW Collision goes on the air this Saturday. 

Tammy ‘Sunny’ Sytch Fearing She’ll Die In Prison Due To Improperly Treated Blood Clot

Thomas Lowson
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Tammy Sytch fears that her life will end behind bars due to an issue with her leg that those running the prison she’s at will allegedly not treat. 

Sytch, who is best known for her career as Sunny in the WWF, was sentenced to 17 years in a Correctional Institute for her role in the car crash that killed Julian Lasseter in 2022. Sytch had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges against her but later changed her plea to no contest. That means she did not admit guilt but would not fight a conviction against her. 

Despite being incarcerated, Sytch recently spoke with TMZ and shared concerning news about her health. The issue began when Sytch noticed a swelling in her left leg which ranged from the top of her knee to her toes. Sytch brought the issue to officials at the prison who reportedly did not treat her. 

Sytch could “barely walk on my leg” as of last week and after testing was diagnosed with a blood clot that requires blood thinners. Getting that medication into her body has been an ordeal however and she’s now fearing she’ll die because of the situation. 

“All that’s been going through my mind for the past three weeks is, ‘Oh, my God, I’m going to follow in [my ex-husband’s] footsteps and die of a blood clot just like he did because I can’t get medical treatment at this prison.'”

Sytch is not due to be released until January 2040. 

Sytch went on to say that the situation is “pretty bad” and that she will insist on care at an off-site hospital if things get any worse. She is not due to be released until January 2040. 

Liv Morgan Discusses The Role Of The Riott Squad In Her WWE Career

Nick Lombardi
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Before Liv Morgan became WWE’s Queen of Extreme, she began her wrestling career as a member of The Riott Squad. A trio of NXT standouts which featured Morgan, Sarah Logan, and the team’s fearless and conniving leader Ruby Riott (now known as Ruby Soho in AEW). During an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the former Women’s Champion provided some insightful commentary on her formative time with the trio. 

When asked about as chapter in her career where she saw a lot of personal improvement, Morgan said it was when she got called up to the main roster in late 2017. Shenoted how being a part of the Riott Squad as a rookie on the main roster helped her shed self-doubt and insecurities about her in-ring work. Furthermore, she stated how the team’s heavy work schedule helped her get good “reps” in.

“Honestly, probably when I got called up to SmackDown. I don’t know what it was, I think because in NXT, I felt like I was trying to make it to the next level so I felt, I guess very insecure because I felt like any mistake I made would enable me from making it to the next level.

Then when I finally got called up, I didn’t really have that fear anymore. So I don’t know, it’s just I was able to flow better. I had less pressure and less fears and I had The Riott Squad with me, I owe so much to Ruby and Sarah for kind of taking me under their wing and guiding me and teaching me.

So I feel around that time is when I really progressed. Also we were doing so many live events. When you’re doing so many reps it’s hard not to get better because we were just working so much.”

While The Riott Squad lasted for a little over two years on the WWE main roster, the trio never quite conquered the women’s divisions of RAW and SmackDown like they would have liked. The team was essentially dissolved in April 2019, when Morgan was drafted to SmackDown in a “Superstar Shakeup”. 

Despite their eventual breakup, the three talented stars remained good friends through it all. In 2021, Liv Morgan reposted a photo of all three stars getting matching tattoos to commemorate the anniversary of their debut on the main roster, dubbing November 21st as “Riott Squad Day”

Liv Morgan looks walk out as Champion at The King and Queen of the Ring

Morgan is set to go one-on-one with World Women’s Champion Becky Lynch at the King and Queen of The Ring Tournament in Saudi Arabia next week. 

The 29-year-old star has never defeated Becky Lynch in a one-on-one match, and her last PLE title win was last summer. When she and Raquel Rodrigez won the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Morgan hasn’t held single’s Gold since 2022. 

Becky Lynch won the World Women’s Championship on the April 22nd edition of Monday Night RAW, shortly following Rhea Ripley’s relinquishing of the belt due to an injury caused by Liv Morgan. The Man of WWE won the title in a grueling 14-woman Battle Royal, last eliminating Morgan to secure the win. 

Liv Morgan’s main event status has been called into question several times by her critics,  but a win over one of the biggest female stars in WWE would instantly silence them. 

WWE Announces Wrestler Injury, Tournament Substitution

Nick Lombardi
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Following a vicious assault from the returning trio Gallus, WWE Superstar Ivar was one of several laid out at the closing of this week’s edition of NXT. Unfortunately, it seems as though Ivar will not be able to get his revenge anytime soon. 

According to WWE, Ivar has sustained an injury following the backstage attack and will be “out of action indefinitely”. Along with Ivar, Gallus took out Wes Lee and Josh Briggs. The three men were set to take part in a triple-threat-match the following week to decide the #1 contender to Oba Femi’s NXT North American Championship.

While Ivar’s status for the upcoming triple-threat match is still up in the air, WWE has decided to remove the former RAW Tag Team Champion from the ongoing Speed Tournament. 

The tournament was set to name a #1 Contender to face current Speed Champion Ricocohet. The company announced via social media that Apollo Crews will replace Ivar and face Tyler Bate in the Semi-Finals of the tournament.

Ivar did comment on the announcement, only posting broken heart emojis on X. 

At this time, it’s unknown if Ivar’s injury is legitimate or a part of a larger storyline with Gallus. WWE has been faced with a bit of an injury bug as of late, with a seemingly ever-growing list of top talent sidelined with injury. Names include Drew McIntyre, Asuka, CM Punk, Rhea Ripley, and more. 

Ivar himself dealt with an undisclosed injury earlier this year, causing him to be deemed “medically unable to compete” on the March 25th edition of Monday Night RAW. The high-flying Viking would return to action soon after.  

Ivar’s been flying solo since his tag team partner Erik was injured in September 2023. In November of that year, Erik announced that he had undergone successful neck fusion surgery. Recently, Erik revealed that he is receiving Stem Cell treatment as part of his recovery.  

AEW Touts Triple Main Event For Double Or Nothing 2024

Aaron Varble
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All Elite Wrestling is now promoting a “Triple Main Event” for this month’s AEW Double or Nothing 2024 pay-per-view. The three bouts, each getting equal billing on the Las Vegas marquee, include:

1. In the first main event, Willow Nightingale defends the TBS Championship against the debuting Mercedes Mone. Match order aside, this will mark the first time a women’s match has headlined an AEW PPV. 

2. The second main event match is Swerve Strickland, with Prince Nana, defending the AEW World Championship against Christian Cage, who will be accompanied by Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne. The Patriarch certainly raised the stakes this week by busting Swerve open by using a glass picture frame of his family.

3. The third main event is an Anarchy in the Arena match. The Elite, consisting of Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson, will face Team AEW, which includes Bryan Danielson, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, and Darby Allin. The daredevil AEW star made his return to television this week, having taken some time off due to injury.

AEW Double or Nothing 2024 

Triple Main Event

Six matches have been announced for the upcoming PPV, scheduled for Sunday, May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada:

  • Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Mone – Singles match for the AEW TBS Championship
  • Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay – Singles match for the AEW International Championship
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther and Mariah May) vs. Serena Deeb – Singles match for the AEW Women’s World Championship
  • Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Christian Cage (with Killswitch, Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne) – Singles match for the AEW World Championship
  • The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson, and Nicholas Jackson) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood, and Darby Allin) – Anarchy in the Arena match
  • Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black – Barbed Wire Steel Cage match for the AEW TNT Championship

Paul Walter Hauser In Talks To Portray Wrestling Legend Mick Foley

Aaron Varble
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Actor Paul Walter Hauser is excited at the prospect of playing Mick Foley and is ‘literally talking to him right now’ about turning this dream into reality. 

Hauser is no stranger pro wrestling himself. He’s graced the squared circle on several occasions and boasts a record of 3-0. Many of his matches are hardcore in nature, involving weapons and violent stunts. During an interview with Mike Roe for The Wrap, Hauser reveals that he’s trying to secure a role that is near and dear to his heart.

“I’m literally talking to Mick Foley right now about the potential of playing him in a movie or limited series,” Hauser tells The Wrap.

“I don’t know which and I don’t know how, but he and I have become friendly, and I think he knows that that could be a really great stroke of genius in casting me to play him.”

Hauser shares that he’s received offers to play wrestlers before. While he’s excited to work on a Mick Foley project, he won’t just sign on to play a wrestler because he likes the sport. He takes his work very seriously and takes pride in selecting roles that truly resonate with him and stories that he wants to share.

“If TNA or AEW or MLW wanted to sign me, I would literally take that into consideration to be part of a contracted role somewhere,” Paul Walter Hauser to The Wrap.

Hauser says that Mick Foley doesn’t look like the typical ‘bodybuilder wrestler, which works in his favor. He joked that his own body type is more similar to stockier wrestlers like Foley and the late Jim ‘The Anvil’ Neidhart.

In an industry overflowing with larger-than-life personalities, Mick Foley’s life story remains among the most captivating. There’s a reason his life story is a New York Times best-seller, which would make getting a project like this greenlit a lot easier.

Hauser keeps a busy career in Hollywood, but he always makes time for wrestling and tries to blend those worlds whenever he can. Earlier this year, he brought pro wrestling to the Emmy Awards by name dropping the nWo, the Dudley Boyz and more during his acceptance speech.

Paul Walter Hauser returns to the ring when he competes in the 40-person MLW Battle Riot event on Saturday, June 1 from Atlanta, GA.

Shark Week Hosted by John Cena Starts Sun. July 7 on Discovery

Aaron Varble
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Society has changed a lot over the years, but two constants that have remained cultural favorites for decades are Discovery’s ‘Shark Week’ and a certain jorts-wearing WWE Superstar with a penchant for dad jokes. This year, those worlds are colliding.

Discovery has announced Shark Week 2024 kicks off Sunday, July 7 and will be hosted by John Cena. Last year’s week was hosted by Hollywood star Jason Mamoa, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson serving as Master of Ceremonies.

This is notable due to Discovery’s connection to Warner Bros. Discovery and, by extension, AEW. It is likely that Cena will appear in promotional campaigns airing during All Elite Wrestling’s shows on TBS and TNT, similar to what we’ve seen with his obstacle course show Wipeout.

The 16-time WWE Champion is currently on another hiatus from the company, thanks to his demanding Hollywood schedule. He was last seen during WrestleMania 40 weekend, where he had a cameo spot in Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns’ main event Bloodline rules match for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He then wrestled an impromptu match on WWE Raw the following night.

What is Shark Week?

The annual, week-long television block on the Discovery Channel featuring shark-based programming originally premiered on July 17, 1988, and it kept returning thanks to strong turnout in the ratings.

Over the years, Shark Week has only grown in popularity, becoming a major hit on the Discovery Channel. Since 2010, it has held the record as the longest-running cable television programming event in history. 

CW Confirms NXT Will Remain On Tuesdays This Fall

Aaron Varble
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NXT is moving to The CW, but fans won’t have to worry about changing which night of the week the show is on.

WWE has announced new television deals, clarifying upcoming changes for NXT. Starting in October, NXT will move to the CW network but will continue to air on Tuesday nights. This ensures that fans will not need to adjust their viewing habits.

Previously, it was confirmed that WWE SmackDown will remain on Fridays when it transitions to The USA Network in mid-September. RAW will also stay on the USA Network until the end of the year, after which it leaves linear cable entirely and finds a new home at Netflix. 

WWE’s New Television Deals

NXT has signed a five-year media rights agreement with The CW, valued between $20 million and $25 million per year, reflecting a 70% increase from its previous contract with NBCUniversal’s USA Network.

Friday Night SmackDown will begin airing on the USA Network starting September 13, 2024. NBC has secured the U.S. broadcasting rights for SmackDown, agreeing to pay $287 million annually, totaling over $1.4 billion for a five-year deal.

WWE RAW will move to Netflix in January 2025 but will continue airing on the USA Network until the end of 2024, despite the current deal expiring in October. For these additional three months, WWE will receive $25 million from the USA Network, preceding their new $500 million annual deal with Netflix, which will last for 10 years.

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