WWE fans, take note: For the next two weeks, WWE Raw will be airing on Syfy instead of its usual home on the USA Network. This change is due to the USA Network’s coverage of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
The July 29 episode of WWE Raw will be broadcast live from St. Paul, MN, marking the final Raw before SummerSlam.
The following week, WWE Raw on August 5 returns to Baltimore, MD. This episode will feature the fallout from SummerSlam.
Why the Change?
The preemption of WWE Raw on the USA Network is due to the network’s commitment to broadcasting the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Next Monday, fans tuning into USA expecting Raw will instead see Equestrian Jumping. The following week, Raw gets bumped for Cycling: Women’s Team Sprint.
When Does Raw Return to USA Network?
WWE Raw will return to its regular home on the USA Network on Monday, August 12, 2024, live from Austin, TX.
Stay tuned to Syfy for the next two week to watch WWE Raw and update your DVR devices accordingly.
All-Elite Wrestling and Warner Bros. Discovery have an agreement in principle to keep AEW on Turner networks for the next several years.
According to sources in the television industry, AEW and WBD’s deal would add AEW content to the MAX streaming platform, including pay-per-views. It’s unknown how much AEW would earn moving PPVs to streaming.
Two sources emphasized the deal was an agreement in principle only and on paper, but could change as both sides get closer to signing off, but there is an agreement on paper.
An official announcement of an extension could happen within the next several weeks. Garrett Gonzalez and Dave Meltzer corroborated the report on Saturday’s Wrestling Observer Radio.
Exact numbers on the deal weren’t available but were said to be on “the middle to high side” of what the two groups were negotiating.
AEW’s exclusive negotiation window with WBD ended on July 21.
WWE recently announced the return of the Bad Blood brand for a PLE to occur this October from Atlanta. The first one—formally titled In Your House: Badd Blood—occurred in 1997, featuring the first ever Hell in a Cell match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels, culminating in the debut of Kane. The show returned in 2003 and 2004, headlined by Triple H working Hell in a Cell matches first with Kevin Nash, then Michaels.
After twenty years, Bad Blood is back. There’s no guarantee we’ll see the Cell, but it does feel like a natural choice given the history of the event. Moreover, WWE’s been building precisely the kind of feud that would warrant a big-time Hell in a Cell main event: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre.
CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre Is The Hottest Feud In WWE
CM Punk’s return to WWE was one of the biggest stories in wrestling at the turn of the year. There was a real risk of it fizzling just as it got started, though, as Punk went down to injury in his first televised match back—the men’s Royal Rumble—and had to miss WrestleMania.
WWE pivoted very nicely as Drew McIntyre took credit for the injury. The months to follow saw Punk three times directly cost McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship–at WrestleMania, Clash at the Castle, and Money in the Bank–in addition the Scotsman beating Punk bloody on an episode of SmackDown.
This intense series of events, paired with the promo skills put on display by both participants have elevated this feud. Against the odds, it’s the hottest issue in WWE without the men involved working a single match together (aside from the Rumble).
Patience Has Been A Virtue In CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre Storytelling
While CM Punk’s injury has protected against rushing the CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre feud too much, WWE has also been shrewd in its storytelling. Punk and McIntyre have never entirely taken their eyes off each other even as McIntyre has engaged in other pursuits like chasing Seth Rollins and Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship. Moreover, they’ve built in some pacing like McIntyre pretending to quit the company, then getting suspended coming out of Money in the Bank.
Given the pace to date, it feels realistic WWE can carry forward without a match between these two until SummerSlam or later and, in any event, the pairing should still feel fresh enough to be a draw headlining Bad Blood.
The Promise And Pitfalls Of Adding Seth Rollins To The Mix
Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk looked like the clear direction for WrestleMania 40 before Punk went down to injury. WWE has nicely reignited the on-screen heat between them when Punk got in the middle of The Visionary’s business at Money in the Bank, going after Drew McIntyre.
Might WWE add Rollins more formally into the mix, including making this prospective Hell in a Cell showdown a triple threat? There are merits to the idea.
After all, one of the biggest questions surrounding Punk right now is his ability to deliver in a big match scenario. He looked a little sluggish in the Royal Rumble and got injured again, following an AEW run that was riddled with major injuries at all the worst times. If there’s anyone on the current WWE roster who can singlehandedly elevate match quality, it would have to be Rollins. The Visionary could enhance the existing match or be a key contributor if Punk were to get hurt and necessitate a change in plans on the fly.
On the other hand, Punk vs. McIntyre is hot enough that it’s more than worthy of its own epic blow off. Transitioning Punk into a feud focused on Rollins after he finishes his business with McIntyre makes all the sense in the world. As such, Rollins having some involvement with the finish or immediate aftermath of this match makes sense, but it may not be the best call to officially add him.
Alternatives Or Additions To CM Punk Vs. Drew McIntyre In Hell In A Cell
On a literal level, it’s overstating it to say CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre is the only match that could close Bad Blood 2024. It may well be the best choice, but world championships also offer obvious options. Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa probably isn’t going to be a “one and done” title program and could bleed into October. Meanwhile, Gunther awaits his World Heavyweight Championship opportunity at SummerSlam and however things play out between him and (presumably) Damian Priest may dictate a feud that could warrant the Cell, too.
Perhaps the most intriguing option of all would be to put Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan in the Cell. Their storyline and involvement with Dominik Mysterio has been a focal point of Raw for months now, culminating in a major moment when The Eradicator returned to close the July 8 episode of Raw. Ripley and Morgan have the talent and the heat behind their feud that they could also justify this kind of spotlight—especially if the current or a future injury were to prevent Punk from headlining the show.
In the end, WWE reviving the Bad Blood brand is doing exactly what it should in tapping into nostalgia and creating buzz. One of WWE’s most buzzworthy feuds should get the chance to headline the show.
WWE’s “Hottest Event Of The Year” is almost upon us, as superstars have begun to promote Summerslam for different media outlets. The event will occur at the Cleveland Brown Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 3. WWE superstars Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill recently appeared on the popular Hot Ones Versus show on YouTube to eat spicy chicken and share their secrets to get fans interested in the premium live event.
In the episode, the former tag team champions were tested against each other by answering questions honestly or having to eat extraordinarily hot chicken flats.
One of the notable funny moments was when Belair shared that Cargill’s most annoying quality as a tag partner is that it takes her a long time to get ready for a match. The former All Elite Wrestling superstar believed it was the first time Belair had mentioned it, while “The EST” recalled a moment where she had to text Cargill to see if she was done preparing before their walkout.
Another interesting tidbit was Belair sharing that she has peed herself in a match. She jokingly noted that as a reason why she doesn’t do leg drops and admitted to peeing herself in a match against Nia Jax. Belair recalled it happening when she lost to Jax in the Queen of The Ring semi-finals on the May 24 episode of Friday Night Smackdown. The former WWE tag champion remembered that the minor accident occurred when Jax landed her Annihilator finisher.
Although it may sound embarrassing to fans, Cargill said it is common in wrestling. That said, she has yet to experience a situation like her partner and isn’t anticipating it either.
What’s Next For Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill?
Belair and Cargill are motivated to reclaim their tag team championships from The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn). They lost the titles to Fyre and Dawn at Clash At The Castle on June 15. Since then, Belair and Cargill have regrouped and have recently caught the “Heel” champions’ attention.
Fyre and Dawn called out the former champions after Belair defeated Chelsea Green on the July 19 episode of Friday Night Smackdown. The Unholy Union shared that they will be on the July 26 show and contemplate giving Belair and Cargill a title opportunity.
A matchup seems possible for SummerSlam as the card is still being developed. It’s worth noting that Belair and Cargill are on the poster for the upcoming PLE, and the former AEW superstar said that they will be there on Hot Ones Versus.
Regardless, Belair and Cargill have shown in their recent media appearance to develop a bond both in and out of the ring.
Fans of CM Punk can now showcase their love for his dog Larry, thanks to WWE Shop’s latest merchandise line featuring the charming pup. WWE Shop currently has two Larry-centric shirts for sale as seen in the images below.
Both shirts cost $32.99 (not including shipping) and range in sizes from small to 3XL. Larry has now stepped foot (or rather, paw) in the history books as the first WWE pet to have their own line of shirts.
Larry The Dog
Larry gets his name from Larry Talbot, the titular Wolf Man of the iconic 1941 Universal Monsters film and its subsequent sequels. While Larry has yet to appear on WWE TV alongside Punk, Drew McIntyre took aim at the “stupid-looking dog” during a June 2024 edition of RAW. The Scottish Warrior ridiculed CM Punk for wearing a bracelet with the name of his dog and wife, which earned a loud “Larry” chant from the Indianapolis crowd.
A WWE t-shirt isn’t the only way to show your Larry fandom, as he was recently immortalized as an action figure. Larry and Punk are part of a new line of wrestling figures created by Zombie Sailor’s Toys as part of their Heels and Faces line. AEW also released their own Larry shirt during Punk’s time with the company though it is no longer available to purchase.
CM Punk has been announced for tonight’s WWE Monday Night RAW, which will serve as the penultimate RAW before SummerSlam 2024. Fans are eager to hear what Punk has to say on tonight’s show and where his deeply personal feud with Drew McIntyre will go next.
Want to know more about all the latest updates in the world of wrestling merch? Make sure to check out our Wrestling Merchandise section for all the details.
Pat McAfee hit back at critics ahead of the following WWE 2K24 downloadable content.
WWE 2K24 has received some backlash for the next installment of content from their season pass. The popular video game series is set to release the Pat McAfee Show Pack on July 24. It will feature the fan-favorite Monday Night Raw Commentator and his sports talk show co-hosts Ty Schmit, Boston Connor, AJ Hawk, and Darius Butler as playable characters.
The downloadable content doesn’t have a price listed yet or is available on digital stores as a standalone. However, it’s expected to be $9.99, like thePost Malone & Friends and ECW Punk Pack from the WWE 2K24 season pass. The decision to add McAfee and his co-hosts hasn’t been universally well-received, as fans have wanted to see more active superstars or former legends in the game.
The developers of WWE 2K24 have also yet to promote the Pat McAfee Show Pack like the previous DLC additions. In response to the negative feedback, McAfee has called out the critics of his and his friends’ inclusion in the game.
The popular WWE personality reposted a Smackdown Hotel X Account tweet, which sarcastically questioned whether they were excited about the upcoming DLC. McAfee responded by calling out the critics in the internet wrestling community and saying that the Pat McAfee Show Pack won’t be released on July 24.
Some of these bumass IWC folks are calling this the worst DLC of all time..
The DLC is still listed on the WWE 2K24 website to come out on July 24. A new announcement to reschedule the Pat McAfee Show Pack seems unlikely, as they have two more DLCs to release from their season pass and more updates to be added to the game.
Upcoming WWE 2K24 Downloadable Content
Although fans have responded negatively to the Pat McAfee Show Pack, WWE 2K developers plan to end their season pass with more legends and active superstars.
The Global Superstars Pack will be released on September 18. It will feature six current talents, including Jade Cargill, Lyra Valkyria, and Dragon Lee, who will make their debut in the WWE 2K series. The game will conclude the season pass with the WCW Pack, hitting digital stores on November 13. Wrestling legends Diamond Dallas Page, Iron Sheik, Mr. Perfect, Great Muta, and Lex Luger will return to the popular video game series to add more depth to the stacked roster.
WWE 2K24 fans may continue criticizing the developers’ choice to include McAfee and his co-hosts in their season pass. However, the following DLC, which will come later this year, has the potential to be a fantastic inclusion in the well-received wrestling game.
The family of Johnny Gargano is recuperating after a fire destroyed the restaurant owned by the father of the reigning WWE Tag Team Champion. On Twitter, Gargano shared that his 82-year-old father was fortunately not in the restaurant at the time of the fire, but that his workplace for close to half a century is gone. Gargano was also sad to those fans who had planned to dine at the restaurant next month when WWE SummerSlam 2024 comes to Cleveland, Ohio.
I figured I should touch on this because people are finding out, and I know a lot of wrestling fans were looking forward to going to my Dad's restaurant when they were in Cleveland for Summerslam.
Last night, there was a fire, and my Dad's restaurant was badly damaged. I'm… pic.twitter.com/tQnWFATfR6
This awful situation has come during a time of career triumph for Johnny Gargano on WWE TV. On the July 5, edition of WWE SmackDown, DIY captured the WWE Tag Team Championships from A-Town Down Under, ending their reign that began at WrestleMania 40: Saturday at 90 days. DIY retained their titles against A-Town Down Under on the following week’s episode of SmackDown.
NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd recently launched a scathing attack on AEW International Champion MJF.
Taking to his X account, Kidd decided to take shots at ‘The Salt of The Earth.’ The NJPW wrestler wrote that the former world champion could never touch him in the squared circle. A few minutes later, Kidd sent out another Tweet. He said that MJF never had a “real scrap”, and he challenged the AEW wrestler to come to Nottingham so that he could show how to fight. Check out the Tweets below:
FUCK MJF ??????
MAN COULD NEVER TOUCH ME IN ZA SQUARED CIRCLE ?????????
It is unclear why Kidd decided to go after MJF and the latter is yet to respond.
Gabe Kidd has made a handful of appearances in AEW. He had joined forces with Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly at last month’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view. Kidd is currently competing in the NJPW G1 Climax 34.
Meanwhile, MJF recently became the AEW International Champion. The 250th edition of AEW Dynamite emanated from Little Rock, Arkansas last week. Will Ospreay and MJF showcased a remarkable match that saw some back-and-forth action.
In the final moments of the match, ‘The Aerial Assassin’ tried to lift MJF for the Tiger Driver 91. However, he paused and was reluctant to hit the move. For those who are unaware, Ospreay had previously said that he retired the move.
MJF took advantage of the situation and shoved Ospreay into the referee. MJF went on to hit Ospreay with his Dynamite Diamond Ring and earned the pinfall victory to capture the title. During the match, Will Ospreay even used Styles Clash but that went in vain.
The wrestling world is buzzing at the news that Bobby Lashley and MVP may be on their way out of WWE. Over the weekend, word broke on social media that the former WWE and TNA World Champion’s contract is expiring soon. It’s also become known that Lashley’s former Hurt Business mentor MVP’s deal is also up this summer.
Lashley has been featured as a main eventer during his most recent run, but Mike Johnson at PWInsider reveals insider information about WWE and Lashley’s contractual negotiations.
Although Lashley was interested to remain with WWE, and still might, the financial offer ‘didn’t exactly make Bobby eager to sign.’
Bobby Lashley, MVP, WWE & The Hurt Business
The Hurt Business in WWE (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander and MVP)
The belief within WWE is that Lashley and MVP will leave when their deals expire. Considering that Shelton Benjamin is also a free agent, the speculation is that the duo may try to reform The Hurt Business outside of WWE. They wouldn’t be able to use the Hurt Business name, since WWE owns that trademark, but
Lashley’s last big match with WWE was at WrestleMania XL in the Philadelphia Street Fight involving The Pride and The Final Testament. MVP last appeared on the SmackDown before WrestleMania, managing Omos for The Andre The Giant Battle Royal.
We’ll be following this story closely and will provide our readers with updates as soon as they become available. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bobby Lashley, MVP, and all your wrestling news.
If you don’t think Cleveland is going to give Damian Priest a champion’s welcome, think again.
WWE announced Monday morning that on August 2, the day before SummerSlam, that The Agora Cleveland will play host to Damian Priest Live which will feature the premiere of WWE 24: Damian Priest, but will also involve a live panel discussion involving Priest, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio.
Details about the forthcoming documentary are below:
“WWE 24: Damian Priest is an intimate, behind-the-scenes look at the long, obstacle-filled journey that Priest endured on his path to becoming World Heavyweight Champion. The documentary features exclusive interviews with El Campeón and his family, WWE Hall of Famers Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Undertaker and Paul Heyman, members of The Judgment Day and other WWE Superstars.”
Priest will obviously have a big weekend in the ring as well considering the stakes he has at WWE SummerSlam. ‘El Campeón’ will be putting his WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the line against GUNTHER and if one’s been following the storyline, Priest is looking for a lot to prove in his championship reign while GUNTHER is all the more willing to take the mantle.
The Agora Cleveland will not only play host to Damian Priest Live, but will showcase Sami Zayn & Friends Do Cleveland and Undertaker 1 deadMAN Show during the weekend as well.
Priest has held the World Title since WrestleMania XL, but has yet to get a definitive win against a major name and much of the thought from critics (and from on-air foes) is that he’s just keeping the title warm for GUNTHER.
Liv Morgan has found some new creative freedom in her main event storyline involving Dominik Mysterio and she makes clear how grateful she is for Triple H.
The WWE Women’s World Champion was on the “Rusic & Rose on The Big Show” and went into detail about how Triple H, the Creative Content Officer for WWE, has been so amazing to work with behind the curtain. She mentions how surreal it’s been to work with someone she grew up idolizing, but the open-mind the ‘The Cerebral Assassin’ has brought to the game makes it all the more beneficial.
“He’s so helpful with any questions that I have or anything I’m thinking. He’s always open to listen and to help me out. I couldn’t be more grateful for that. I walk into work so excited every single week to see what kind of shenanigans we’re going to get into. It’s a very happy, open, creative atmosphere that I think all of my co-workers appreciate as well. It’s been nothing short of amazing and fun. So, I’m looking forward to showing up to work this Monday and seeing what we’re going to get into, so watch us.”
Fans should be in store for another exciting Monday as WWE RAW will continue to build to the likely battle of Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley. While neither them or Dominik are slated for matches, one would only imagine that storyline will continue to cultivate as they build towards SummerSlam.
Also on tap for tonight’s WWE RAW is the return of CM Punk. You can check out the full preview to WWE RAW below.
There are plans for Jay White and his Bang Bang Gang of Colten and Austin Gunn, but they might be tabled just for a bit.
According to Fightful Select, Jay White is currently dealing with an injury, but their is a gameplan in place for The Bullet Club Gold story to continue to develop.
There certainly was a ripple in that story this past Saturday on AEW Collision when Austin, Colten and Juice Robinson lost the AEW Trios Tag Titles to Christian Cage, Killswitch and Nick Wayne.
White was initially a big signing for All Elite Wrestling, but his star power got lost in the shuffle for quite awhile before he aligned with The Gunn Club. However, that “lost in the shuffle” feeling was further fueled at AEW Full Gear 2023, when White decisively lost to MJF in the main event of the PPV, making ‘Switchblade’ almost feel like an afterthought.
Despite all this, White has continued to excel in the ring and also behind the microphone as he’s gotten the opportunities to showcase his speaking ability on a consistent occassion. If Tony Khan and AEW want to maxumize the most out of White, the company has the opportunity to do so and even he’s gone for a short period due to the aforementioned injury, it could present a good opportunity to gameplan for the former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.
If you do miss having Jay White on your television, he recently became new DLC content for the AEW: Fight Forever videogame.
Raj Dhesi (formerly Jinder Mahal in WWE) is set to make his in-ring debut for GCW next month. On Sunday, GCW announced that Dhesi will face Effy in a singles match on August 2 at the promotion’s Now and Forever event in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mahal was let go from WWE back in April and he spoke about his release in detail. Following his release, several promotions were reportedly eager to work with him and the list included GCW.
Dhesi entered the ring wearing a mask and attacked Effy. He performed his finisher Khallas before unmasking himself.
Dhesi recently said that he would raise GCW to his standards and become their champion. He also bashed GCW General Manager Matt Cardona for doing a terrible job in his role.
“The Maharaja” Raj Dhesi has revealed the tour dates for his ‘Unhindered Tour.’ The former World Champion will be making appearances in various locations across North America.
More has come to light regarding the fate of Bobby Lashley and MVP after the two Hurt Business alum were pulled from WWE’s internal roster. Lashley hasn’t competed for WWE since a May 2024 live event, while MVP, the manager of Omos, has similarly vanished from TV. Tamina Snuka’s name was also removed from the internal roster, and her most recent match came in February 2023.
Latest On Bobby Lashley & MVP
There is talk of Lashley and MVP heading to AEW, Dave Meltzer reported on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio. It was added that AEW and MVP/Lashley cannot enter direct talks at this time as both men are still under contract with WWE. The contracts of both men will expire “relatively soon” and WWE is under the assumption that a new deal won’t be reached.
“Their contracts are going to expire…as things stand right now, WWE is under the assumption that they are gone.”
The Hurt Business
WWE believes there will be an attempt to revive the Hurt Business should Lashley and MVP leave. Lashley and MVP want to revamp the group alongside Shelton Benjamin, who was released from WWE in September 2023. The group’s fourth member, Cedric Alexander, has been teaming with Ashante Thee Adonis as of late.
It would ultimately be Tony Khan’s call as to whether the Hurt Business reunites in AEW but the idea is “under consideration.” Meltzer made clear that things are not a “done deal” yet, but are currently “alive.” MVP has tried to register the Hurt Business name, but the USPTO states that the term is a WWE-owned trademark.
Bringing Lashley and MVP (as well as possibly Shelton) would be a huge coup for Tony Khan, one that WWE is currently under the assumption could very much happen. Keep tuned in to SE Scoops for the latest on this developing situation.
WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle recently reckoned that Chad Gable shouldn’t be compared to him.
Gable and Angle have similar backgrounds due to their amateur wrestling career as well as their Olympic career. Fans have often drawn comparison between the two but ‘The Olympic Gold Medalist’ feels that shouldn’t be done any longer.
Chad Gable recently revealed that Randy Orton praised him and said that he’s no longer the next Kurt Angle. The WWE legend has agreed to Orton’s comments. Speaking on the Kurt Angle Show, Angle said that Gable has managed to successfully develop his character and showered praise on him. He believes that Gable has established his own identity in the company. He said:
“[Chad’s character has] developed incredibly well. I just love Chad. He has such a great energy about him, great attitude. When they said, ‘You’re the next Kurt Angle,’ he took it. He said, ‘I’m proud to be the next Kurt Angle. That’s a great compliment.’ But I think Randy’s right. He’s earned his own stripes. I believe that he’s done enough of his own stuff that now he is labeled as Chad Gable. He’s no longer the next Kurt Angle. He’s Chad Gable, and he’s gonna show the whole world what he can do.”
Chad Gable recently fell prey to the wrath of The Wyatt Sicks. However, he attempted to exact revenge on the sinister group on last week’s Raw. He aligned with The Creed Brothers (Julius Creed & Brutus Creed) to launch an attack on Bo Dallas, who continued to laugh during the attack. Later on, the Wyatt Sicks members emerged as Gable and Creed Brothers retreated.
The chances of Sycho Sid taking his place in the WWE Hall of Fame may have improved now that Vince McMahon is gone, according to the former World Champion. Speaking to the Attitude Era podcast, Sid admitted that “Vince [McMahon] didn’t like me so much” and believes this is why he’s not been offered a Hall of Fame spot. With McMahon exiled due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit, however, Sid is hopeful that those still with WWE will be open to offering him an induction, and possibly more.
“If you get back in, you might want to do something like a part-time deal, [be a] manager, or special — I think I was pretty good at interviews, too. There’s always a lot of people having a hard time with that. If I could teach them, maybe I could help them do their interviews.”
Sid worked with some of the top names in WWE during his tenures with the company, including Hall of Famers such as Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker. It was against these two that Sid headlined WrestleManias 8 and 13 and he has the distinction of having only main event matches at the Showcase of the Immortals.
While Vince McMahon may not have liked Sid, the former WWE Champion was brought back in 2012 as part of the build towards the 1,000th episode of Monday Night RAW. He was later featured as DLC in WWE 2K17, his first WWE video game role since WWE WrestleMania Steel Cage Challenge in 1992.
Bringing Sid back would be a huge deal, but WWE has a history of welcoming back talent it appeared they’d never work with again. In 2013, Bruno Sammartino was brought back as part of that year’s Hall of Fame, and CM Punk’s return last November proved to never say never in wrestling. With that in mind, fans can’t count out Sycho Sid taking a giant step into the Hall of Fame, especially now that Triple H has full say on theinductions.
Hologram made an impact with his debut match in AEW and those behind the scenes liked what they saw from the masked wrestler. After a series of vignettes teasing his arrival, Hologram made his in-ring debut on the July 20, edition of Collision with a victory over Gringo Loco.
Hologram was praised backstage following his debut, Fightful Select reports, as officials felt it went very well. Gringo Loco also received recognition for being a solid ‘base’ for Hologram’s first match in AEW.
There are more elements to Hologram, including “technologically ambitious” ideas that will be rolled out as part of the character’s presentation moving forward. Hologram is signed to an AEW deal but Gringo Loco is not.
A Case Of Mistaken Identity
After AEW Collision went off the air, the latest ROH TV tapings were held which saw the return of Fuego Del Sol. Given that Del Sol appeared so suddenly after Hologram, some fans speculated that they were the same person, an idea Del Sol rejected on Twitter.
A bunch of people have tagged me, some joking and some serious, I am not Hologram. His debut was great, I’m a fan of his, also shoutout to Gringo Loco who’s the best base in the world.
Hologram is being portrayed by former AAA wrestler Aramis who has faced Gringo Loco numerous times in the past. Now with a new name and new presentation, the future looks bright for Hologram after his well-received arrival on Collision.
Wrestling legend Kevin Von Erich has shared the latest on his sons Ross and Marshall following their recent, impactful appearance on AEW Collision. During the July 20, show, the legendary family aligned with Dustin Rhodes and Kevin made clear that his boys could learn a lot from the former Goldust.
Speaking to Third League Radio, Kevin, the subject of the A24 biopic The Iron Claw, Kevin said he’d gotten “choked up” watching Ross and Marshall in the ring for their matches in AEW and Ring of Honor. Kevin was also asked whether fans can expect to see more of his son in Tony Khan’s company (h/t Fightful.)
“I don’t know what I can say or can’t say. I know they are in negotiations right now. They’re talking to different people… I really like AEW. That’s kind of where I’m leaning right now, but it’s up to the boys, so we’ll just see. We’ll find out.”
The Von Erichs in AEW/ROH
Across both AEW and Ring of Honor, Ross & Marshall Von Erich have six matches to their name and boast an impressive 6-0 record. The pair’s most recent match saw them defeat Alex Reynolds and John Silver during the latest ROH Honor Club TV taping and Kevin taught the Iron Claw to Katsuyori Shibata. Joining AEW/ROH full-time would be a huge step for Ross & Marshall, who are former MLW World Tag Team Champions, and add another incredibly talented tag team to Tony Khan’s roster.
Cody Rhodes will always appreciate the WWE fans who easily could’ve rejected the former AEW EVP upon his return at WrestleMania 38 in April 2022. Despite once being a driving force behind WWE’s chief competition, Rhodes has been accepted with open arms by the WWE Universe, in stark contrast to the often-hostile reactions he received in AEW.
Speaking to ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page, Rhodes said he had “nothing but positive things” to say about the fans and that he “can’t find a negative in anything that they do.” The Undisputed WWE Champion adds that fans could have “fully rejected me” when he returned two years ago.
“Here’s this guy, he went off and started his own company, he was real bitter about how he left, midcard, jobber, all of this, they really could’ve gone a different way with it and that wasn’t the case. Somebody asked me at Mania, why do you think [they’ve stuck with you] and the only thing I could tell them was that I think it resonated with them, my story is a real story.”
Rather than being rejected, Rhodes has become one of WWE’s top stars, a consistent merchandise-selling powerhouse, and the face of the company in this ‘new era.’ In an era of wrestling where discourse is incredibly tribal, Rhodes’ accomplishments across both AEW and WWE and his story have endeared him to fans across the wrestling landscape.
The Undisputed WWE Champion will next put his title on the line at WWE SummerSlam against Solo Sikoa. The August 3, show will take place from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame welcomed Arn Anderson and other legends into their hallowed halls this weekend.
Anderson was joined by Tony Schiavone, Greg Gagne, Tom Prichard, Tony Garea and Don Frye as the 2024 Inductees in Waterloo, Iowa at The George Tragos-Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Anderson happened to be inducted by his son Brock and commented afterwards regarding the weekend with family, friends and fans.
“Thank you all for the incredible outpouring of support both in person and online this weekend! It was truly a great honor to be part of this year’s TNT HOF class among so many distinguished peers in the presence of family and friends.”
There was several other names of note joining the inductees this year. Gerald Brisco, JBL, Baron Von Raschke, and 2024 WWE Hall of Famer Thunderbolt Patterson were all in attendance. Also there was the legendary Dan Gable, who the mueseum is named after.
Don Frye was the recipient of the George Trajos Award, Anderson got the honor of the Frank Gotch Award, Schiavone was given the Gordon Solie Award, Prichard became the inaugural Verne Gagne Trainer Award and Garea now holds the Jack Brisco Spotlight Award.
We at SEScoops would like to congratulate all who were inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend.
MVP’s time could be finally finished with WWE and so could another that has been with the company for a long time.
According to PWNexus on social media, both MVP and Tamina Snuka join Bobby Lashley in being off of WWE’s internal roster. MVP hasn’t been seen on WWE television in over 100 days as he last accompanied Omos to the ring for the Andre The Giant battle royal on the SmackDown before WrestleMania 40. As for Tamina, she’s been off WWE television for well over a year as she last battled Michin on an episode of WWE Main Event.
MVP may have reacted to the report, as he simply posted a “salute” emoji, possibly implying that he could be bidding farewell to WWE and later had a video noting that he was working out with his son and was in good spirits.
Since returning to WWE, MVP has mostly been in the manageriatl role, but would also wrestle from time to time. Along with Lashley, MVP was an intrical part of the notorious Hurt Business faction and his presence certainly helped to elevate ‘The All Mighty’ for a memorable WWE Championship run.
Tamina has been all over the WWE grid, but her most recent memorable run is arguably her tag partnership with Natalya. Nattie was greatly speculated to be leaving WWE in recent months, but she ultimately inked a new deal with WWE.
Bobby Lashley may soon be on his way out of WWE. The former WWE and TNA World Champion has enjoyed arguably the best run of his career in recent years. Lashley’s WWE contract is expiring soon, according to Fightful, and there’s a good chance he’ll be a free agent in the months ahead.
Lashley, 48, has been wrestling for over 20 years and has not spoken publicly about wanting to retire any time soon. He’s has only wrestled on television five times in 2024, most recently at WrestleMania 40 in the Pride vs. Final Testament Philadelphia Street Fight.
Lashley was scheduled to be part of this year’s King of the Ring tournament, but was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to an unspecified injury.
Reactions to Lashley WWE Contract Situation
Big E calls him a monster, specimen, professional and gentleman.
Lashley had a memorable run as WWE Champion as the main man of The Hurt Business. With MVP at his side, along with Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin, Lashley reached new heights in WWE. During The Hurt Business era, he held the WWE Championship until he lost it to Big E, who cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase in 2022.
Leading up to WrestleMania 40, Lashley had another opportunity to claim World Title gold by qualifying for the Elimination Chamber, but he was eliminated by Drew McIntyre.
Stay tuned to SEScoops to follow Bobby Lashley’s next move.
Catch Monday’s episode of WWE Raw live on the USA Network from the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. With SummerSlam just two weeks away, the storylines we’ve seen building over the past several months are about to culminate at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Saturday, August 3.
Confirmed matches and segments for tonight’s Raw include:
CM Punk Returns: Punk and Drew McIntyre have been embroiled in one of the most intense rivalries of the year. What does Punk have in store for the Scottish Warrior?
Singles Match: Sonya Deville vs. Lyra Valkyria
Six-Man Tag Team Match: Xavier Woods, Otis & Akira Tozawa vs. The Final Testament
We’ll update this WWE Raw preview if GM Adam Pearce announces anything else.
What else to expect:
We’re hoping to see CM Punk officially challenge Drew McIntyre to a match at SummerSlam. Punk hasn’t wrestled since he tore his triceps at the Royal Rumble and this would be a blockbuster addition to the match card.
Our weekly dose of fireworks from Rhea Ripley, Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio. Morgan and Ripley will fight over the Women’s World Championship at SummerSlam, but where do Dominik’s loyalties lie?
In a surprising move, President Joe Biden has announced the end of his 2024 Presidential campaign, just 106 days before Election Day. This decision set off a firestorm of analysis from politicians and pundits across the political spectrum.
One notable response came from Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs, best known to wrestling fans as WWE legend Kane. Jacobs, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, took to social media to voice his opinion on Biden’s announcement. In a fiery tweet, Jacobs demanded that Biden “RESIGN NOW!” He argued,
“If Joe Biden is not fit to run for president, he is not fit to serve as president.”
– Major Glenn Jacobs
Jacobs’ statement received a mixed response on social media. Many users criticized his logic, pointing out that Biden’s decision to not run for another term does not necessarily imply that he cannot govern for the remainder of his current term.
In a follow-up tweet, Jacobs clarified that his initial post was meant as a joke. However, he did not back down from his criticism of the Democratic Party. He accused them of having a “lust for power” that he believes has jeopardized both the country and the world.
In all seriousness, we are in a precarious situation. America's adversaries have to be looking at what's going on and thinking now is the time to make their move. The Democrats' lust for power and this ridiculous game they've been playing has put the entire world at risk.
This week, Jacobs attended the Republican National Convention, where former President Donald Trump was formally nominated. Hewas spotted with his former boss, Linda McMahon, the former WWE President and CEO, who delivered a speech on the final night of the convention prior to Hulk Hogan and Donald Trump himself.
Shibata may be adding another move to his repertoire and it came courtesy of the legendary Kevin Von Erich.
Marshall and Ross Von Erich reunited with Dustin Rhodes on the latest episode of AEW Collision as the company finds itself deep in the heart of Texas which means their father was not far off. The family was backstage with Rhodes who made clear that he had his generational good brothers’ backs.
They may soon have another ally as it was caught by fan footage during Ring Of Honor tapings that Kevin Von Erich was showing Shibata the proper way to administer the treachorous Claw, a move that has put many a many down at the notorious Sportatorium.
Shibata was clearly excited and honored for the moment as the Japanese star was in the ring with Kevin, the brothers and Dustin.
There could be a good trio feud forthcoming as Chris Jericho and The Learning Tree recently had an angle where they took out Shibata, Samoa Joe and HOOK one by one.
Marshall & Ross Von Erich have always been an ultimate babyface tag team as they cut a great deal of their pro wrestling teeth in Major League Wrestling and Japan. The brothers even became the MLW World Tag Champions by defeating MJF and Richard Holliday years back.
Dustin Rhodes continues to wrestle for AEW as he’s been in a select bit of high-profile matches, even competing in a World Title eliminator match. He also recently made clear he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
