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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.

WWE 2K24 ECW Punk Pack Review: Excellent Start To Season Pass

Tyriece Simon
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WWE 2K24 fans can rejoice as the series has released the ECW Punk Pack from their Season Pass. The latest downloadable content features ECW legends The Sandman, Terry Funk, and The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley & D-Von Dudley). It also spotlights WWE fan favorite CM Punk, who returns to the video game series after his last appearance in WWE 2K15. 

When WWE 2K24 was revealed on January 22, fans wanted Punk to be playable at launch. Unfortunately, the game’s roster was already set, and the developers decided to make him a part of their DLC. 

The beloved wrestling game offers fans the option to buy Season Pass for $39.99 or the ECW Punk Pack as a standalone for $9.99. I’ve played with the new characters from the DLC enough to share my review, which I’ll rate from 1 to 10. 

WWE 2K24 Delivers On The Realism

As the case for the base game, WWE 2K developers did an incredible job making each wrestler from the DLC look stunning. The game captures each character model to look as realistic as their counterparts. 

For example, Punk looks like he is currently on TV, with great detail, from his tattoo to the greys in his beard. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much care the developers put into each character’s entrance. It’s very noticeable when Punk comes out on the stage and does his signature pose; the fans chant his name loudly as they do each week on TV. 

Another fun detail is when The Sandman makes his entrance and smashes a beer can on his head; he starts to bleed like he did during his career. Unfortunately, he doesn’t make his signature walk from the crowd but instead comes from the stage. It’s unclear why the developers could not add this feature to his entrance. However, I appreciate that they try to make The Sandman entrance unique. 

WWE 2K24 may have its issues, but it undeniably does a great job of capturing the performers realistically. Each ECW Punk Pack character model makes me appreciate how far wrestling games have come over the years. 

Move Set For Each Character Is Great

One of my concerns was if WWE 2K24’s latest DLC would include the signature move set of each character. For the most part, I can say that the WWE 2K developers did a great job of getting the in-ring moves with a few omissions. 

The noticeable move missing from my playthrough with The Dudley Boyz was not having their popular assisted Diving Headbutt to the groin. It would’ve been nice if fans would’ve been able to recreate a move that is signature to their style. However, the 3-D is in the game and could be done from the corner. Another excellent inclusion for longtime Punk fans is that the Pepsi Plunge(Avalanche Pedigree) is his super finisher in the game. 

I wish certain moves were included with each wrestler. However, it’s not enough to bring my enjoyment down from playing with them. The WWE 2K developers captured most of their signature and think fans will appreciate what they put into the game. 

Conclusion

I think WWE 2K24 ECW Punk Pack is an excellent start for Season Pass. Fans may complain about specific decisions, like The Sandman’s entrance, that don’t capture each character to their fullest potential. That said, I enjoyed playing with the addition to the already-loaded roster and can’t wait to play against other gamers online or local with them. 

This DLC sets the tone for what fans should expect for the following four packs later this year. Hopefully, they can also deliver as well as the ECW Punk Pack for character detail and signature moves. 

I give WWE 2K24’s latest DLC ECW Punk Pack a 9 out of 10. 

Drew McIntyre Ruthlessly Mocks CM Punk For Hyping His WWE 2K24 Character

Bishal Roy
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CM Punk hyped his return to WWE 2K24 in style and he took cheeky jabs at his arch-nemesis Drew McIntyre in the process. However, ‘The Scottish Warrior’ is not a man to hold back his thoughts and fired back at Punk. 

The Chicago legend is making his return to the game as a playable character for the first time in ten long years. ‘The Second City Savior’ is among several other legends as part of the downloadable content, ‘ECW Punk Pack’ that the WWE 2K24 gamers can access with a Season Pass. WWE legends such as Terry Funk, Dudley Boyz, and Sandman are also part of the pack. Taking to his Instagram account, CM Punk posted a video message to promote the game and took a jibe at McIntyre. Here is what he said:  

“Good news, everybody. CM Punk is finally available to play in WWE 2K24. It’s making waves on the internet, so you know Drew McIntyre’s watching it. I’m put in the Punk Pack, that includes myself and some hardcore legends from ECW like Sandman, The Dudleyz, and the most hardcore legend of all, Terry Funk.”

“Now Drew, if you are watching this, let’s face it, it’s on the internet, so you’re watching it. You can finally play as your favorite wrestler and human being, me. CM Punk. Hope you have a terrible day, pal.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6_zjoxJeKF

Drew McIntyre responds

‘The Scottish Warrior’ noticed Punk’s remarks and responded on X. He played a video clip of Punk in the WWE 2K24 game where he could be seen hobbling after performing a top rope move. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ yet again mocked Punk for his injury and wrote: 

“lol he’s in the game for one day and already hurt”

CM Punk sustained a torn tricep injury at Royal Rumble 2024 and McIntyre has been taking credit for the same. He has been mocking Punk for the same ever since. Punk is currently sidelined but he has shown impressive recovery after surgery. He even dropped the brace six weeks after undergoing surgery. 

As Punk has showcased a great recuperation, reports suggest that he might be back in a matter of the next few months and even compete at the SummerSlam Premium Live Event in August. 

New CyberFight President Aims To “Strengthen Relationship” Between NOAH & WWE

Thomas Lowson
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Pro Wrestling NOAH and WWE could be working a lot more closely in the coming months, at least if the new president of CyberFight has his way. 

Yasuaki Okamoto has been appointed the new President of CyberFight Inc, the parent company of NOAH. During an introductory press conference, Okamoto shared that his goal is to strengthen the promotion’s relationship with WWE. 

Okamoto’s appointment and goals with WWE wasn’t the only major announcement. In the press conference, it was confirmed that Keiji Muto has been appointed as a NOAH scouting advisor

Muto competed for years for Pro Wrestling NOAH and is best known for his legendary tenure as The Great Muta. It’s fitting that Muto was part of the same press conference in which Okamoto shared his goals in relation to WWE. In January 2023, WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura was granted the opportunity to face Muta at a NOAH show as part of the latter’s retirement tour. 

WWE Working With Others

For a very long time, WWE refused to work with other companies though that stance has softened considerably in recent years. The 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble saw then-IMPACT Knockouts Champion Mickie James while TNA Knockout World Champion Jordynne Grace was part of the 2024 match. 

Even the idea of AEW and WWE working together can’t be counted out, with Tony Khan being open to a ‘World Cup’ event featuring talent from both companies. WWE President Nick Khan is considering potential collaborations with other promotions though nothing is currently publicly confirmed to be in the works. 

Asuka Confirms Her Knee Injury, Says She’s Very Grateful To Damage CTRL

Bishal Roy
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Damage CTRL member Asuka has revealed to her fans that she is dealing with a knee injury.

Taking to her YouTube channel ‘Kana Chan TV’, the former WWE Women’s Champion stated that she is taking her time off after Backlash: France Premium Live Event to treat recover from a knee injury. In her vlog, Asuka expressed her gratitude towards Damage CTRL teammates, Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane for their help during the European tour. She revealed that he had not been at her best. She wrote the following caption in the video:

“After the Backlash of my European tour, I had to take a break to treat my knee that I had been hurting for a while. My partners Kairi and Dakota helped me a lot during this tour as I could not move at my best. I am very grateful to both of them.”

At the end of her vlog, she wrote “See you soon.”

Injury scare

Back in March, reports emerged that Asuka suffered a possible knee injury and missed house shows due to the injury. It took place during an edition of SmackDown and fans in attendance noted that the Japanese wrestler was hobbling in the ring which raised concerns.

However, at a WWE Live Event in Springfield, Illinois on March 23, Asuka made her return to in-ring action. She joined forces with Damage CTRL teammates, IYO SKY and Kairi Sane, and faced the team of Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair & Naomi in a losing effort. 

Asuka’s last match before her hiatus took place at WWE Backlash: France earlier this month. The powerful team of Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair dethroned Asuka and Kairi Sane to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile, in the Queen of The Ring Tournament. ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ was replaced by Dakota Kai, who endured a loss against Lyra Valkyria in the First Round match. Check out the latest results of the tournament below:

Liv Morgan Efforts To “Save” Her Family Led To Early Struggles & Pressure In WWE NXT

Thomas Lowson
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Raw Superstar Liv Morgan was determined to “save” her family when she joined WWE, which led to the future Women’s Champion questioning all of her decisions. 

Morgan was hired by WWE after her job at Hooters put her in touch with a wrestling coach. Speaking on the Insight podcast, the Raw Superstar admitted that her early days in WWE were much different than what she expected. 

“It was overwhelming. I thought because I was a fan, I would be great right away, because I loved it so much. But it was so hard for me. I was very bad for a very, very, very long time.”

Morgan’s love of wrestling started in her youth and she was able to enjoy WWE programming despite her family struggling financially. On the podcast, Liv explained that she had a goal to help her family which resulted in a lot of self-imposed pressure.

“I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself because I’m like ‘I’m going to save my family. I’m going to make it to WWE and I’m going to change their lives.’ So I had all this pressure on me. I feel like anything I’m doing wrong, oh my gosh, I’m going to get fired… But eventually I, finally, improved and steady improvement. It was a journey. It was much harder than I’d thought.”

Liv Morgan put a lot of pressure on herself in WWE NXT. 

Morgan would eventually be called up to the main roster as one-third of Absolution in 2016, which is when she was able to recognize that she was talented and those talents were being recognized. Since then, she has become a Money in the Bank winner, a two-time Women’s Tag Team Champion, and a SmackDown Women’s Champion. Morgan is hoping to add more gold to her trophy cabinet at WWE King And Queen of the Ring. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Update On Oklahoma’s Stance On Transgender Wrestlers After Warning AEW Over Nyla Rose

Thomas Lowson
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The state of Oklahoma is reportedly considering a rule change that’d allow transgender wrestlers to face those of their gender identity. 

In December 2023, AEW received a warning after Nyla Rose competed against Alejandra Lion at a taping in Oklahoma City. The motion made by Sports Commission member Larry Lovelace said that AEW would face “punitive action” if they allowed Rose to compete against women in the state. 

Now, it appears that those in the Sooner State are reconsidering their stance. Records obtained through a public records request show that Commission Administrator Jim Miller informed AEW SVP Chris Harrington that allowing Rose to wrestle violated state rules regarding matches “between males and females.” Miller’s email to Harrington adds: 

“For your information the Commission is currently in discussion to possibly change this rule. However if it is determined by the Commission that the rule should be changed it will have to go thru [sic] the legislative process for rule-making and would not be in effect until July 2024.”

Oklahoma had previous warned AEW not to use Nyla Rose. 

Miller has since retired from his position as Commission Administrator and quietly exited the role in March 2024. He has since been replaced with Diana Fletcher who did not wish to comment on the matters related to the December 2023 match. 

AEW President Tony Khan expressed his support for Rose in April 2024 and said he was “disappointed” by the position and the warning. Khan was noncommital when asked if the statute will prevent future events in Oklahoma but to date no events in the state have been announced. Khan’s support for Rose is no surprise as AEW has various LGBTQ+ inclusive programs and has shown support for other LGBTQ+ wrestlers on its roster. 

Another Incident

This situation isn’t the first time that rights to compete have been discussed in the state of Oklahoma. In 2022, Konner Vaughn became a licensed wrestler in the state. He was subsequently banned from having any matches against fellow men as he transitioned from female to male years early. 

When Vaughn asked the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission to reconsider their stance, they did not return his emails. Vaughn is currently not involved in wrestling and said the “soul-crushing” statute by OSAC played a huge role in him hanging up his boots. Vaughn has said he hopes to return to wrestling in his home state if the rules are changed. 

Liv Morgan Shares How Role At Hooters Landed Her Dream Job With WWE

Thomas Lowson
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Liv Morgan’s dream of becoming a WWE Superstar may have remained just a dream if not for her time behind the bar at the popular establishment Hooters. 

Since joining WWE in 2014, Morgan has become one of the company’s most popular women in addition to being a multi-time champion. On the Insight podcast, Morgan recalled how working at the right Hooters helped turn her in-ring dreams into a reality. 

“Everyone at Hooters knew I loved wrestling. I’d be doing my bar shifts, I’d put WWE on the TV… everybody knew it was my thing. Before my time [at Hooters] there was a wrestler who will not be named who used to manage this specific Hooters.”

This unnamed wrestler clearly had a lot of love for his old job as he would also visit his specific Hooters whenever WWE was in town, which led to a meeting with Liv. 

“Me being the big WWE fan that I was, I saw this wrestler come into Hooters and I knew they were exactly and I introduced myself… I talked to this wrestler for a while and I was like ‘I want to wrestle!’ And they were like ‘Haha, yeah.’ And I just spit all my wrestling knowledge to them and ‘Okay, you really do love wrestling.’

“So they introduced me to this man Joe DeFranco. He’s a world-renowned strength and conditioning coach. He only trains professional athletes and he actually trained Triple H on a weekly basis so I went to his gym and he threw me right in with his NFL guys.”

Liv Morgan was able to put her WWE love to use at Hooters. 

Despite having no formal workout experience, Morgan’s tenacity impressed DeFranco, who would pass her name to those in WWE. By October that year, Morgan was under contract and made her debut as a Tyler Breeze fan during his NXT TakeOver: Rival entrance. The rest, as they say, is history, and now Morgan finds herself one of the top women in all of wrestling.

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold Promotion Reveals Championships Ahead of Debut Event

Thomas Lowson
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The roster of the new Marigold promotion will compete for a World Championship and a United National Championship once the first event takes place later this year.

Marigold, the brainchild of STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa, was confirmed in April 2024 after speculation that Ogawa was looking to make a new company. It was allegations that Ogawa was ‘poaching’ talent from STARDOM that led to his termination from parent company Bushiroad. 

Tokyo Sports gave fans their first glimpse at two of the championships that will be defended under the Marigold banner. The Marigold World Championship features a red strap with silver plates while the United National Championship features a white strap with silver plates. It is currently unclear how the inaugural champions will be decided. 

These won’t be the only titles that the roster of Marigold will compete for. There will be two more titles to be introduced, according to the report, but there is no word yet on what those titles will represent. 

The United National Championship (above) and World Championship (below.)

Marigold Fields Forever

Marigold’s first event will come on May 20 and will take place at the iconic Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. This inaugural event will be broadcast on WRESTLE UNIVERSE and will offer both English and Japanese commentary. The show will feature Giulia, who despite reports that a WWE move is guaranteed, will make a handful of appearances for Marigold per year. The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion will team with Utami Hayashishita to face WWE NXT alum Sareee and Bozilla. 

Alalshikh: Saudi Arabia Looking for Royal Rumble & WrestleMania In 2026 or 2027

Thomas Lowson
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0

The 2026 WWE Royal Rumble and possibly WrestleMania 42 could take place in Saudi Arabia if higher-ups with the Middle Eastern Kingdom have their way. 

During an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour podcast, Saudi GEA chairman Turki Alalshikh was asked about plans for the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania to happen in Saudi Arabia. Alalshikh explained that “we are talking around 2026-2027.”

Alalshikh’s hopes for the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania in 2016 are hardly unfounded. A recent report revealed that Saudi authorities are hopeful that both shows will take place in the nation in the future. If so, it’ll be the first time either the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania has taken place outside of North America. 

Events In Saudi Arabia

Talk of WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia comes at an interesting time in the event’s history. Both John Cena and Cody Rhodes have advocated for the first non-North American WrestleMania to happen in the UK, an idea that has been supported by recently-reelected London Mayor Sadiq Khan. With that said, WWE President Nick Khan has stated that the ‘Big 4’ events will remain in North America for the time being. 

As for the Royal Rumble, WWE held its ‘Greatest Royal Rumble’ in 2018 with the titular 50-man match being won by Braun Strowman. The event sparked controversy given that no women were allowed at the event though Saudi Arabia has since gotten rid of this ban. 

Alalshikh at a WWE Crown Jewel press event with Paul Levesque and Stephanie McMahon-Levesque.

At the time, it was reported that Saudi authorities had requested Yokozuna and The Ultimate Warrior for the Rumble match despite both having been dead for years at that point. Though it wasn’t Yokozuna, WWE did involve sumo-wrestler Hiroki Sumi into the match. 

WWE’s next event in Saudi Arabia will be King And Queen of the Ring. The May 25, event will see the finals of the two titular tournaments as well as various title matches. 

Jey Uso Knows WrestleMania 40 Match With Jimmy Uso Let People Down

Anutosh Bajpai
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Jey Uso knows that his WrestleMania 40 match with brother Jimmy Uso didn’t live up to the expectations and he believes that time constraints were the reason for it.

The Raw star recently had an interview with DailyMail where he opened up about things such as splitting up with his twin brother, choosing his ring gear, and more.

The former tag champion was then asked for his thoughts on how the match between the two brothers played out. Jey explained that getting a singles WrestleMania match against his brother was still surreal but he did feel like the bout failed to live up to the expectations:

“To be honest, it was still a dream match, just me and my brother. I kind of felt I kind of let the people down, though. It was all due to timing issues, so our match was fairly quick. Sometimes you’ve just got to roll with it. It is what it is. “

Uso said that the positive side of it is that they were able to check that box off. The former Bloodline member claimed that he isn’t mad at the other matches and he is just glad that he and his brother got a WrestleMania moment.

There Might Be Another Time For It: Jey Uso

Prior to the bout, WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi had talked about potentially getting involved in the fight between his sons in some capacity.

When asked about it, Jey Uso said that he always wanted his dad to be involved in some way whether it be in the match itself or the storyline leading up to it:

“Hell yeah, I always wanted my dad involved, whether it be a referee… I just don’t think my dad could have kept up, just getting up and down, because referees, they’re doing like, push up burpees the whole match too, they’re getting a great workout. Maybe like a go home promo, just some kind of cool promo segment. There might be another time for it.”

Jey also talked about his increased popularity since leaving the Bloodline and his unique entrance that has been garnering attention from not only fans but the WWE officials as well. You can check out the future plans for his entrance here.

Spoiler Results For 5/21 Episode of WWE NXT, Battleground Match Announced

Thomas Lowson
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0

The results are in for the May 21, episode of WWE NXT which was taped following the May 14, episode of the gold brand. 

The double-taping has occurred due to the upcoming WWE King And Queen Of The Ring PLE that will take place on May 25, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. WWE wants certain producers and agents that work weekly NXT shows to make the trip to Jeddah for the latest event in WWE’s lucrative deal with Saudi Arabia. Rather than a live WWE NXT without many of the brand’s producers and agents, WWE felt it was better to have the full staff on board and tape the show in advance. 

WWE NXT Spoilers – May 21

Here are the spoilers for the May 21, episode of WWE NXT: 

Fallon Henley defeated Thea Hail in a NXT Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match qualifier. Chase U were at ringside for the match but were ejected after Ridge Holland was spotted with a chair that Henley had introduced into the equation. Post-match, Jazmyn Nyx came out and attacked Thea while Fallon looked on from the entrance.

Wes Lee and Joe Coffey were declared co-winners in a triple-threat North American Championship qualifier which also included Josh Briggs. Interestingly, Coffey was in the match replacing Ivar but there’s no word on why he wasn’t in the match. Oba Femi was on commentary. 

Axiom and Nathan Frazer defeated Luca Crusifino and Channing Lorenzo (with Tony D’Angelo and Adriana Rizzo) to retain the NXT Tag Team Championship. The No Quarter Catch Crew came in through the crowd to attack D’Angelo, distracting Crusifino and Lorenzo. 

Jaida Parker defeated Brinley Reece to advance to the ladder match for the NXT Women’s North American title at NXT Battleground. 

Lexis King came to the ring and talked about how it is great to be him and mentioned how he has been on a winning streak as of late. He then lost to Dante Chen who celebrated with Mr. Stone after the match. 

NXT Champion Trick Williams spoke about being attacked two weeks ago and how Noam Dar was attacked last week. Trick made clear he did not attack Dar but Meta-Four (except for Lash Legend) didn’t believe him. Joe Coffey appeared and said they are likely wondering why someone who will challenge for the North American Title is out there. Wolfgang and Mark Coffey attacked Trcik from behind and attacked Je’Von Evans who tried to help Williams. 

Natalya and Karmen Petrovic defeated Lola Vice and Shayna Bazler. Post-match, Vice attacked Baszler, but the Queen of Spades caught her and locked in the Kirifuda clutch. Referees came out to separate the two and NXT GM Ava announced they’ll face off in an NXT Underground match at NXT Battleground. 

Ricky Starks Is As Oblivious About His AEW Absence As You Are

Anutosh Bajpai
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Ricky Starks has no idea why he has been kept off AEW TV.

The young star has not been seen on AEW programming since the March 30th episode of AEW Collision. He and tag team partner Big Bill were defeated by Top Flight in a tag team title tournament match during the show.

Starks addressed his unexplained absence from TV during a recent interview with WhatCulture. He was asked if he’d be a part of the upcoming Double or Nothing PPV on May 26 and Ricky claimed that he doesn’t know:

“I really have no clue. It’s just a very interesting time, I feel like. I wish that I was on Dynamite, or I wish I was on Dynasty. I wish I was on these things, but I think at a certain point, just for my own sanity, I can’t go too crazy about it because the proof is in my work and my effort that I’ve constantly given.”

The 34-year-old said that he constantly gives 1000% effort and the biggest lesson he has learned is not to worry too much about the things that are not in his control.

I Have No Answers: Ricky Starks

(AEW)

Starks’ latest match with AEW saw some last-minute changes. An audible was called for Top Flight to go over in the bout after the wrestling star seemingly got hurt while taking a tandem DDT.

The former FTW Champion further addressed his health status during the interview. He confirmed that medical issues are not the reason for his prolonged absence from the ring:

“I’m not hurt. Even that night [on AEW Collision], I specifically stated, hey, I’m not hurt. I was just being cautious about it because at the moment, I didn’t know what was happening, especially with this side of my body. So I wasn’t hurt. I was never put on an injury list or anything like that. I have no answers.”

He reiterated that he has no clue why he isn’t involved in any ongoing feud. Ricky Starks did note that receiving messages from concerned fans is encouraging for him.

Starks’ former tag team partner Big Bill recently joined hands with Chris Jericho. This signifies the end of the partnership between the former AEW tag champions.

What is the real issue preventing the former champion from returning to AEW programming is anyone’s guess. We hope that he will be back on TV entertaining the fans once again very soon.

Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match Set For AEW Double or Nothing 2024

Thomas Lowson
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AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland hopes to end his war with The House of Black at Double or Nothing in the confines of a barbed wire-clad Steel Cage. 

The match was made official on the May 15, episode of AEW Dynamite and comes after weeks of feuding between the two sides. Copeland will face Malakai Black at the upcoming pay-per-view. He has previously retained his title against both Buddy Matthews and Brody King. 

Copeland had made the challenge following last week’s AEW Collision, where he retained the title against Kyle O’Reilly. On Dynamite, the Rated-R Superstar was mentally and physically tormented by the faction and both he and Reilly were attacked by the House of Black. 

Backstage, Black accepted the challenge and accepted Copeland’s request for a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match. The Rated-R Superstar could lose more than his title though, as Black revealed that should he beat Copeland, the WWE Hall of Famer would bend his knee to the House of Black.

AEW Double or Nothing 2024

Here is the card for AEW Double or Nothing 2024 as it currently stands. 

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

Darby Allin To Replace Injured Eddie Kingston in Anarchy In The Arena At AEW Double or Nothing

Thomas Lowson
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Darby Allin will replace Eddie Kingston in the upcoming Anarchy in the Arena match following the attack on Kingston by The Elite. 

The Mad King was ambushed by The Young Bucks and Jack Perry at NJPW Resurgence after Kingston had lost the Stong Openweight Championship to Gabe Kidd. The attack marked the first time in five years that the Bucks had appeared for New Japan. 

After the attack, it was reported that Kingston had suffered a legitimate leg injury during his battle with Kidd. During the May 15th edition of AEW Dynamite, The Elite took center stage to announce Kingston’s withdrawal from the match. In a heated segment, the AEW World Tag Team Champions attacked Dax Harwood, leading to Cash Wheeler and Bryan Danielson rushing to his aid. 

Despite their efforts, they were outnumbered until Darby Allin intervened, attacking The Elite with his skateboard. The former TNT Champion was then confirmed as Team AEW’s new fourth member. 

Double or Nothing 2024 will feature the third-annual Anarchy in the Arena match, with all three bouts happening at the annual AEW event. 2022 saw The Jericho Appreciation Society defeat the Blackpool Combat Club, Eddie Kingston, and Sanata, while last year’s match saw the BCC victorious over The Elite. 

This year’s match will also mark the return to the ring of Allin, who has been out of action since the Big Business edition of Dynamite in March. The risk-taking wrestler suffered a broken foot at the event that (among other issues) led to him postponing his attempt to climb Mt. Everest. Allin has said he fully intends to do the climb but it is unclear when it will happen. 

“Made Me Sick” – Fans Irate Over Release Of Liv Morgan Arrest Police Body Camera Footage

Aaron Varble
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Morgan faced legal trouble in Florida last December, leading to charges of marijuana and possible synthetic drug possession. Although the charges in the past, the police bodycam from the night of her arrest is now going viral.

Morgan was arrested in Florida last December for ‘possession of marijuana (not more than 20 grams)’ and ‘possession of drugs, possibly synthetic cannabinoid.’ Prosecutors in Sumter County ultimately decided to drop the charge.

According to the arrest report, Morgan admitted the bag of marijuana was hers but denied ownership of the vape pen containing the allegedly synthetic substance, stating that she “transports a lot of people in her vehicle.”

The body camera footage showed police going through the WWE Superstar’s journals, and reading them. Fans have given Morgan a ton of credit for keeping her cool throughout the situation.

The police officer acted like he had never heard of her. He ran across proof of her “wrestling work” while digging through Morgan’s belongings. The officer can also be heard wondering if she ever made it to WWE, solidifying the idea that he had no idea who he pulled over. 

Wrestle Ops tweeted out to say, “In reference to new bodycam footage of Liv Morgan’s arrest for possession of Marijuana: Complaining/questioning the cop for revealing Liv’s personal diary/journal but then also spreading the clip in the same post is definitively not an abnormal choice to make.”

Morgan is a beloved WWE Superstar, so fans are naturally flocking to stand by her now, as they did at the time of her arrest. Hanatas Wish tweeted out to say, “That Liv Morgan bodycam footage actually made me sick dawg. Genuinely one of the kindest people I’ve met in all my 24 years and I believe some of that footage shouldn’t of had been made to the public for not only her sake, for the cops involved too. Just felt too intrusive.”

This was a very popular opinion, as nobody has taken the side of the officers involved in the search of Morgan’s vehicle. In the end, her charges were dropped, but she still had to go through this ordeal over some marijuana and a cart.

Morgan spent virtually no time in detainment before her release. She will also not see any additional time behind bars for this infraction on Florida’s state law.

Liv Morgan ran into no trouble with WWE over this arrest. She was out of action due to injury at the time, but she returned during the 2024 Royal Rumble right on schedule. She is currently a top heel on the RAW brand, as her revenge tour continues.

Young Bucks ‘Superkick Party’ Branded Reebok Pumps Coming Soon

Nick Lombardi
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The tyrannical EVP duo of Nicholas and Matthew Jackson revealed that Champs Sports will soon be selling their very own Young Bucks-branded Reebok Pumps.  The announcement was made on the May 15th edition of AEW Dynamite, where a commercial showcasing the shoes and featuring AEW stars: The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, John Silver, and Evil Uno was shown. 

Here are some high resolution photos of the stylish kicks:

The Young Bucks’ “Superkick Party” Reebok Pumps
The Young Bucks’ “Superkick Party” Reebok Pumps

This is certainly not the first time the reigning AEW Tag Team Champions have had an exclusive footwear line. The duo are well-known sneakerheads, wearing flashy brands and styles to the ring for years. In September 2022, Nicholas and Matthew Jackson announced a collaboration with Diadora for their line of basketball sneakers. 

The Young Bucks are NOT the EVPs to mess with

The Young Bucks have been on a ruthless quest to cement their control of AEW by any means necessary for some time. Following the debut of Kazuchika Okada and the return of Jack Perry, the Young Bucks made their move to seize control by attacking AEW President Tony Khan on the 4/24 edition of Dynamite. 

Since their shocking actions against Khan, The Elite has run roughshod through the AEW roster. They have concentrated their power through title belts, and ironclad contracts; even going as far as to attack their old friend Kenny Omega. On the May 15th edition of Dynamite, the brothers “fired” The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels who had been critical of the duo. 

Despite their recent successes, things aren’t all sunshine and rainbows in The Elite’s world. The Elite will have to contend with the combined forces of Bryan Danielson, FTR, and a returning Darby Allen in an Anarchy in the Arena match at AEW Double or Nothing next week. 

Shane Taylor Mocks Kevin Nash, WWE Hall Of Famer Fires Back

Dominic DeAngelo
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0

Shane Taylor isn’t picking up what Kevin Nash was laying down for him, and ‘Big Sexy’ wasn’t about to let the AEW star off the hook.

On the recent episodes of the “Kliq This Podcast” Nash has been forthright in his thoughts regarding the pros and cons of AEW. A name included in that was Taylor, whom Nash initially didn’t know the name of. Because of that, Nash at first called him the “pear-shaped guy,” spoke about Taylor’s physique and him losing to Orange Cassidy via an Orange Crush punch.

Weeks ago, Taylor responded on X, stating, “Criticism is part of the game. Comes with the territory. I appreciate the critique Kevin Nash. You have open invitation Hyena Muay Thai in Houston to train & spar with me as many rounds as you’d like. Looking forward to discussing my shape & my name with you in person OG.”

The following episode of “Kliq This” Nash responded, stating that the situation is lose-lose for Taylor because if a 64-year old man could spar with him, he’d have his job and he also wouldn’t job to Orange Cassidy. Instead, Nash challenged Taylor to a body-building match six months down the road. Nash did praise Taylor for his on screen presence and gave further critique to his match with Cassidy.

This week, Taylor responded on X.

“Aight now, Kevin Nash. 6 months from now you’ll see a different S.T. 

“Following YOUR superb example, I’ll also put a [needle] in my ass, [drink] myself stupid & let my EGO & greed destroy a company & cost my peers their jobs.

“Hyena Muay Thai 811 S Mason Rd Katy, TX.”

Nash replied to Taylor on Wednesday night, addressing Shane’s accusations regarding his own past.

“I’d actually be happy if you had blood work done. Funny I got my push in the WWF because I was the biggest guy clean. Have never flunked a test for steroids and no longer drink. The “I’m a mark” statement of shutting down a company……I also caused the sale of the Braves, Hawks and Thrashers? Obviously the most influential person in our industry.”

Author’s disclosure note: Dominic DeAngelo operates the social media account for “The Kliq This Podcast” and sits the weekly recordings of episodes.

Ricky Starks Defends CM Punk Amid Hiatus From AEW Television

Aaron Varble
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0

CM Punk may have left AEW in the midst of a mountain of controversy, but he doesn’t have the entire roster against him. Ricky Starks recently defended Punk from his detractors during an interview with WhatCulture. Starks praised Punk’s influence on his presentation on AEW Collision, a show that was initially built around his ill-fated final return to the company.

He mentioned a frequently shared video clip featuring dramatic pyro effects, which was entirely Punk’s idea. Punk aimed to help certain people and foster collaboration. Starks recalled a conversation with Punk, where Punk emphasized, “It’s really up to you to sink or swim.”

This motivated Starks to consistently exceed his previous performances, feeling a strong responsibility to live up to Punk’s support. Punk played a crucial role in advocating for Starks and suggesting new approaches for his character, showing a unique understanding of Starks’ potential.

“I have no issues with Punk, I don’t give a f*ck what anybody tries to tell me, I don’t care. He has never done me wrong and you can have your opinions on him, but you shouldn’t vilify someone for thinking differently than you.”

Ricky Starks’ AEW Status

At the AEW Revolution post-show media scrum on March 3, 2024, AEW President Tony Khan addressed questions about Starks’ whereabouts. He acknowledged that he hadn’t heard any rumors circulating about the former AEW World tag team champion, but emphasized his’ importance to the AEW roster.

Starks was involved in Sting’s first AEW match at the 2021 Revolution, where Sting and Darby Allin faced Starks and Brian Cage in a street fight. More recently, on the February 7, 2024, edition of Dynamite, Starks and Big Bill wrestled Sting and Allin, losing to the AEW World Tag Team Champions in a Tornado Tag match. He hasn’t competed since the loss to Sting and Allin and did not wrestle at Revolution this past weekend. However, it may be only a matter of time before he resurfaces.

Many are under the belief that Starks will eventually end up in WWE. Not only is Cody Rhodes a very close friend, but he was also spotted with the American Nightmare before the 2023 Royal Rumble event. 

Last month, we broke the news that Starks’ former Team Taz partner HOOK is planning to let his AEW contract expire so he can explore free agency and possibly join WWE. Don’t be surprised if Starks isn’t far behind, or even gets there first.

“Please Don’t Eat That!” – Jordynne Grace’s Inventive Snack Suggestion Causes Unrest With Fans

Aaron Varble
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0

Jordynne Grace takes her health and fitness seriously. A new snack that she invented to help her with gains also stirred up a viral reaction.

The former Knockouts Champion tweeted out a photo of what appears to be a bunch of ground beef between two Pop Tarts. She gave fans the idea that this is her new food of choice when trying to bulk up.

“Been seeing crazy gains incorporating this into my post-workout meal,” she posted as a caption for her fans. Little did she expect a wave of responses to flood her notifications.

Consuming raw meat is somewhat of a trend, but many fans were taken aback by this post. They were not on board to try it for themselves. Still, she did have some who were rooting for her.

WWE RAW General Manager Adam Pearce saw this post, and he reacted as he shared some LOL emojis. Others didn’t have the same response, as one fan said the image made them want to throw up.

“Please don’t eat that,” one fan posted. Another fan thought that seeking police intervention may stop Big Mama Pump from eating that raw meat on a Pop Tart.

Some didn’t see it as a big thing, because eating raw meat like that is commonplace in other cultures. Still, it seems that Jordynne Grace has a long way to go when it comes to winning over fans for her new snack.

Grace later commented on her own post to say, “Didn’t realize my pop tartare was gonna be so controversial.”

Grace is known for participant in bodybuilding competitions, so she knows how to sculpt herself. She has also become a millionaire outside of pro wrestling via her exclusive content site.

She was also in the 2024 WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match, so you never know where she will pop up next. In 2023, Grace inked a two-year extension with TNA Wrestling.

AEW Figure Fighters Free-To-Play Mobile Game Released On iOS And Android Devices

Thomas Lowson
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0

AEW fans and gamers alike can now play a brand new mobile wrestling game as part of a collaboration between the All-Elite promotion and TNT Sports. 

AEW: Figure Fighters is available now in the United States and is available for download from the App Store and Google Play. The free-to-play game was announced in June 2023 and features AEW’s stacked roster. An ‘autobattler format’ which allows players to level up their wrestlers via a series of game modes and challenges. 

The new game features some of AEW’s top names, including AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm, and FTW Champion Chris Jericho. Darby Allin and Kris Statlander were also confirmed for the game, a statement from AEW about Figure Fighters revealed. 

AEW: Figure Fighters marks the latest effort from the promotion to expand into the world of gaming. In July 2021, AEW Elite: General Manager launched on iOS and Android, allowing players to step into the shoes of Tony Khan. Last year saw AEW’s first console video game, Fight Forever, hit shelves, and the game has consistently seen updates in the form of DLC. In addition to game, AEW recently launched its own gaming podcast hosted by Adam Cole and Evil Uno. 

Fight Forever is AEW’s latest mobile video game.

The development of AEW: Figure Fighters furthers TNT Sports’ commitment to innovation in web3 technology, supported by an ongoing partnership with Immutable X. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports has previously used web3 to host its own trivia quiz in which fans can win prizes for watching WBD content. This was part of the partnership with Immutable X. 

In its five years since opening its doors, AEW has become a hit with fans. With the release AEW Figure Fighters, expect that fanbase to grow more involved about the wrestlers they get to play as in the new mobile game.

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