Over the years we have seen a number of successful wrestling stars taking advantage of the fame to jump into politics. People such as Jesse Ventura and Glenn ‘Kane’ Jacobs have made successful transitions while even someone like The Rock has toyed with the idea of running for office.
If The Great One does decide to enter politics, however, he might very well find a familiar face contesting against him, as Cody Rhodes has now shown interest in joining politics as well.
During a recent interview with Gabby LaSpisa, The American Nightmare was asked about the discussion about him potentially running for president one day. Replying to it, the WWE star revealed that he’s actually been approached by both the Democratic and Republican parties with offers:
“So it’s funny that it’s been kind of brought up a bunch lately, because as shocking as this might seem to people, both…we live in a society where it’s really like, you got your Democratic Party, you got your Republican Party.
So few get to fall in the moderate range anymore, even though so many of us have a moderate mindset. But I actually got approached by, I won’t say people directly, but I got approached by individuals from both parties about potentially running for an office in Georgia.”
Cody Rhodes Wants To Help People
While Cody Rhodes didn’t provide any further detail on the offer made to him, he did confirm his interest in the possibility. The Undisputed WWE Champion explained that the idea of using his fame to help people is appealing to him:
“That’s probably as far as I can say, but it’s something that was really genuinely appealing. Here’s what’s appealing to me, politics is policy. Policy is one thing to me. But the idea that you can take your sphere of influence, whatever, this modicum of fame that wrestling and sports entertainment gave me to help people. Seems like the greatest gift.
Again, I don’t know if it’s something…. depending on how long I stay in this game. I don’t want to outstay my welcome, but that’s something that’s become very appealing, especially when presented to me, the possibilities that could come.”
Cody Rhodes is set to defend his WWE title against Solo Sikoa at the SummerSlam PPV this Saturday. A big change was made to this match during the latest SmackDown. You can read more about it here.
The SummerSlam main event between Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa will now be contested under Bloodline Rules.
This week’s episode of SmackDown featured the final build for this match. The two contestants came face to face in the opening segment of the show and exchanged some intense words.
When Rhodes brought up his win over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, Solo claimed that Reigns was a weak Tribal Chief and challenged the WWE Champion to a Bloodline Rules match of his own.
The American Nightmare claimed that he is not afraid of any Bloodline member and he then accepted the stipulation for their match.
Roman Reigns has long been rumored for a SummerSlam return to finally confront Sikoa. A Bloodline rules match will only make it easier for the former champion to stop his cousin from winning the World title.
WWE SummerSlam 2024 Updated Match Card
The final SummerSlam match card features a total of 7 singles matches with all but one featuring a title defence. Here is the updated card for the PLE:
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: Damian Priest vs. Gunther
WWE Women’s Championship Match: Bayley vs. Nia Jax
Women’s World Championship Match: Liv morgan vs. Rhea Ripley
United States Championship Match: Logan Paul vs. LA Knight
Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker
Singles Match: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre with Seth Rollins as special guest referee
Bloodline Rules Undisputed WWE Championship Match: Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
WWE SummerSlam 2024 will be taking place from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Clevland, Ohio on Saturday, August 3. SEScoops with have full coverage of the event.
The Bloodline once again holds tag team championship gold after Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga won the WWE Tag Team Championships on SmackDown. On the go-home show before WWE SummerSlam, the two teams competed in the main event of the show which also happened to be in Johnny Gargano’s hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.
As seen in previous Bloodline matches, this bout saw interference as Solo Sikoa hit Ciampa with a Samoan Spike at ringside while Gargano was trying to fight off everyone else. In the end, it was Fatu who got the win for his team to bring The Bloodline its first taste of gold since WrestleMania 40.
This marks the end of DIY’s time as WWE Tag Team Champions. The pair had held the gold since the July 5, edition of SmackDown where they dethroned A-Town Down Under. Ciampa and Gargano had just one successful title defense, that being against A-Town Down Under on the July 12, episode.
With the WWE Tag Team Titles now with the Bloodline, all eyes are on Solo Sikoa and tonight’s Undisputed WWE Championship match. Sikoa has vowed to win the gold Cody Rhodes captured at WrestleMania by defeating Roman Reigns. On this week’s SmackDown, it was announced that their title match will be under Bloodline Rules, and Sikoa once again had some choice words for Roman Reigns, calling his cousin “weak.” Comments like these and others have led many to speculate that Reigns will return tonight at SummerSlam.
WWE SummerSlam 2024
SummerSlam 2024 will take place on August 3, one day after the Priority Pass tryouts, from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The show will be the second SummerSlam from Cleveland and currently has seven matches announced.
The Yeet Party continued after the SummerSlam go-home episode of SmackDown from Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio went off air.
There were two dark matches that took place after the broadcast ended. The first bout saw Braun Strowman picking up a victory over Chad Gable in a singles match.
The second dark match of the night featured the team of Rey Mysterio, Jey Uso, The Miz and R Truth taking on The Judgement Day in an 8 men tag team bout.
The babyfaces had a lot of fun in this match and they all danced to Uso’s theme song for an extended period. They even got the World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest to do the Yeet at one point.
The ending of the match saw Rey Mysterio doing 619 on all four JD members. He then pinned Dominik to pick up the win for his team and the faces continued to celebrate long after:
SmackDown dark match #2:
– Rey Mysterio, Jey Uso, Awesome Truth d. Judgment Day *SUPER fun dark match. Babyfaces kept restarting the song for the crowd, Dominik interferes which gets a ton a heat. Babyfaces win, more yeeting afterwards. pic.twitter.com/HOi5eyOd1n
— Dr. Chris Featherstone, Ph.D. (@chrisprolific) August 3, 2024
What Happened On SmackDown
This week’s episode of the Blue Branded Show saw the final build for some top SummerSlam matches. The show opened with a confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa before their encounter on Sunday which has now been made a Bloodline rules match.
We also saw a promo battle between US Champion Logan Paul and LA Knight before their title match. A Women’s Tag Team Championship match between The Unholy Union and Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair ended in a disqualification.
The main event of the show was DIY defending their Tag Team Titles against Jacob Fatu and Tonga Loa. The Bloodline won this match and the show ended with the faction standing tall.
Mere days ahead of his long-awaited return to the ring, CM Punk stopped by the WWE SummerSlam 2024 tryouts in Cleveland, Ohio. Attending the tryouts, Punk spoke about learning the fundamentals of running the ropes, stating that it’s akin to learning how to swim. Punk also enjoyed a chat with WWE SVP of Talent Development Shawn Michaels and had some words of encouragement to those trying out for the company.
WWE has hosted several tryouts over the years in its effort to fill the company’s roster with the best athletes in the world. In 2021, WWE held tryouts over SummerSlam weekend in Las Vegas. Several notable names were recruited following these tryouts including Nikkita Lyons, Tatum Paxley, Edris Enofe, Javier Bernal, and Monday Night Raw’s Maxxine Dupri.
WWE SummerSlam 2024
SummerSlam 2024 will take place on August 3, one day after the Priority Pass tryouts, from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The show will be the second SummerSlam from Cleveland and currently has seven matches announced. In addition to in-ring action, SummerSlam weekend will see Damian Priest: Live, which will include the premiere of his WWE: 24 episode and a live panel from El Campeon.
Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from these upcoming talent tryouts as well as the Biggest Party of the Summer.
Matt and Jeff Hardy have been working with WWE to produce interviews for upcoming documentaries, Fightful Select has reported. In addition to interviews, other content with the brothers has reportedly been filmed that will be rolled out on WWE’s digital media platforms in the future. WWE sources reportedly told Fightful that fans shouldn’t read too much into this situation, but that an eventual appearance by the brothers wouldn’t be out of the question.
The Hardy Boyz separately parted ways with AEW earlier this year and both have since been working with TNA. It has been reported that both men are working in TNA without official contracts meaning WWE would be able to offer them a deal if they wanted.
Matt and Jeff’s last return to WWE took place at WrestleMania 33 and the pair won the RAW Tag Team Championships in one of the most exciting returns in recent history. Matt left WWE in 2020 while Jeff would be controversially released the next year after refusing to enter rehab. It was later revealed that the behavior that made WWE insist on Jeff entering rehab was not due to drugs.
Could A Return Happen?
Fans reportedly should not read too much into the Hardyz filming WWE content, but there are those eager to see the legendary brothers make a full-term return. Last month, Matt Hardy told fans to “never say never” and teased that the Hardy Boyz could return as part of the ongoing NXT-TNA crossover. The elder Hardy pointed out that the WWE NXT Tag Team Championships are a set of titles that the pair are yet to win and teased that could change.
This tease came shortly after Matt said on Busted Open Radio that his “best case scenario” would see the pair have “a hell of a run” in TNA before doing “something small” in WWE followed by a Hall of Fame induction. Jeff has said he only wants an induction if he goes in with his brother. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Matt & Jeff Hardy and a potential WWE return.
WWE’s working relationship with TNA Wrestling was on display at Friday’s TNA Impact television tapings from Tampa, FL, at the Florida State Fairgrounds. NXT stars Riley Osborne from Chase U, Wolfgang and Dante Chen competed at the tapings.
CHASE U IN THE iMPACT ZONE!! ?? Riley Osborne showed up at tonight's TNA tapings in Tampa, FL!!
The collaboration between WWE and TNA has facilitated multiple crossover appearances. NXT talents such as Wes Lee, Izzi Dame, and No Quarter Catch Crew have wrestled on TNA iMPACT!, while TNA stars like Hendry, Jordynne Grace, and Frankie Kazarian have appeared on NXT programming.
WWE NXT's Dante Chen showed up at tonight's TNA iMPACT tapings in Tampa, FL!!
This partnership has been mutually beneficial, which each company enjoying the fresh match-ups created when wrestlers ‘cross lines’ or walk through forbidden doors. Stay tuned to SEScoops for our continued coverage of TNA iMPACT!, which airs every Thursday.
WWE held the SummerSlam 2024 Kickoff Party in Cleveland on Friday, August 2, 2024 outside theRocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. This event was free for anyone to attend and marked the beginning of the SummerSlam weekend festivities.
SummerSlam Kickoff Party Highlights:
CM Punk, Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins: The Best in the World and The Scottish Warrior deliver one final message before they throw down at SummerSlam.
Ripley promises to bring the Brutality at SummerSlam:
Liv Morgan with some interesting comments of her own:
Triple H and Michael Cole: WWE’s Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque and Michael Cole hype up the Cleveland crowd
At WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Roman Reigns’ 1,316-day run as Undisputed WWE Universal Champion ended, marking the finish to one of the greatest stories in modern WWE history. Not long after this monumental moment, it became apparent that Reigns would not be appearing anytime soon, leaving fans all the more eager to see him again.
— tribal chief ??? | Fan Account (@luireigns) August 1, 2024
The stage is set. The challenge laid out. Next weekend, Our Tribal Chief Roman Reigns returns to WWE. Bloodline warfare is upon us folks and I could not be more excited. #SmackDown#SummerSlampic.twitter.com/nGzypKotQx
It’s worth remembering that Reigns has a history of huge moments at the Biggest Party of the Summer. It was in 2018 that Reigns ended the 504-day reign of Brock Lesnar as Universal Champion, a reign that now pails in comparison to the Head of the Table. Just two years later, Reigns would return from a hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’d be just one week later that he’d capture the Universal Title.
But what would a Roman Reigns return look like at SummerSlam 2024? If he does make an appearance, it’ll almost certainly be in the Undisputed WWE title match between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa. In Reigns’ absence, Sikoa has laid claim to being the Tribal Chief and has made a series of remarks about Reigns himself. From claiming Roman Reigns will never return to essentially daring Reigns to show-up, stating in a promo that if Reigns has a problem with Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline, he knows where to find him.
The Bloodline Civil War of the summer of 2023 proved popular with fans, and the Cleveland Browns Stadium could be the epicenter of a second conflict. With the recent arrivals of Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu, there are more family members than ever before, ensuring a much wider conflict than what fans saw last year.
Of course, the question then is who would Reigns recruit to his side, especially given his past treatment of his own kin. While Jimmy Uso (a victim of Sikoa’s Bloodline) may fall back in line with Roman, it’s hard to see Jey Uso returning to SmackDown and aligning with the brother and cousin who did him wrong. Interestingly enough, Zilla Fatu, the son of Umaga, is reportedly in Cleveland, with some speculating his debut could come with Reigns’ return.
But there’s also another option that few have considered; that Reigns isn’t returning to confront Sikoa and his allies, but to align with them. After all, Sikoa will be facing Cody Rhodes, the man who ended Reigns’ run on top, a fact that the former champion will not have forgotten.
Will Roman Reigns return at WWE SummerSlam this weekend, and if so what role will he play in the fate of the Undisputed WWE Championship?
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the Tribal Chief.
As WWE gears up for the highly anticipated SummerSlam Premium Live Event, tonight’s SmackDown promises to set the stage with Championships matches and final hype for the second-biggest PLE of the year. Broadcasting live from the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio, the go-home show will feature championship defences and high-stakes encounters. Here’s a detailed preview of what to expect.
WWE SmackDown Preview: Tag Team Championship Match
DIY vs. The Bloodline
In the marquee match of the evening, WWE Tag Team Champions Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa (DIY) will defend their titles against The Bloodline’s Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu.
DIY will be looking to cement their position as the tag champs and The Bloodline are seeking to expand their dominance with the promise with gold around their waists.
Women’s Tag Team Championship Match
Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn vs. Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, face a significant challenge from the powerhouse team of Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
Both teams have been on a collision course, and this match could steal the show as these four talented athletes compete at the top of the women’s tag division.
Homecoming for Logan Paul
Logan Paul’s Return
United States Champion Logan Paul returns to his hometown of Cleveland, Ohio ahead of his match against LA Knight on Saturday night.
Face-to-Face Showdown
Cody Rhodes vs. Solo Sikoa
A highly anticipated face-to-face confrontation between Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa is set to escalate tensions further between the American Nightmare and ‘Leader’ of The Bloodline.
All SmackDown Matches Tonight
These are all of the confirmed matches for tonight’s episode of SmackDown:
WWE Tag Team Championship Match: Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa (DIY) (c) defend against The Bloodline’s Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn defend against Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill
What happened last week?
Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:
Podcasts covering professional wrestling are as common as clotheslines and headlocks. For brave explorers seeking to enter the pro wrestling podcast vortex, we at SEScoops want to make your journey as easy as possible.
Each week, we update you on the Top 25 most-listened-to wrestling podcast episodes, focusing on the Top 5 (including embeds). This feature is based on data from Apple Podcasts compiled by Chartable.
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Top 5 Wrestling Podcasts – Apple (August 2nd, 2024)
“Do you experience déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?” is a famous line from the 1993 comedy blockbuster “Groundhog Day,” in which Bill Murray portrays a weatherman who becomes trapped in a time loop on, you guessed it, Groundhog Day.
It’s safe to say that the #1 position of our Top 5 professional wrestling podcasts has become a bit of a “Groundhog Day” scenario, as once again, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Calaway’s “Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway” claims the coveted spot.
In the latest edition of the podcast, The Undertaker sits down with a different kind of wrestler: world rebounded to arm wrestler Michael Todd.
2) Jim Cornette’s Drive-Thru | +
Do you know what Jim Cornette calls a Quater Pounder with Cheese? It’s a Royal Rumble with Cheese! There you go— a movie AND a drive-thru reference! We felt particularly clever with that one.
Love him or hate him, Jim Cornette doesn’t care what you think. He has been a prominent figure in professional wrestling for decades and is considered one of the pioneers in producing weekly wrestling commentary.
In the most recent edition of his “Drive-Thru” show, Cornette reviews AEW Dynamite and WWE RAW, previews SummerSlam, and answers tons of fan questions!
3) Insight with Chris Van Vliet | ~
Shockingly, coming up with a movie-related reference/pun for Chris Van Vliet, of all people, was more challenging than expected. Maybe you can call him Bradly Cooper from 2011’s Limitless because you are truly limitless when you have great Insight! Honestly, we wouldn’t blame you if you stopped reading either.
For those who didn’t, we appreciate you. Plus, you get to meet this week’s #3 podcast, Insight with Chris Van Vliet, if it wasn’t obvious already. CVV isn’t just one of the most well-respected interviewers in professional wrestling; he’s an internationally recognized media personality. CVV is a four-time Emmy-winning TV Host, YouTuber, and Inc. 500 entrepreneur who’s interviewed everyone from Anne Hathaway to Hornswoggle.
In his latest episode, the tables turn, and the fans get to ask Chris Van Vliet questions! Here Vliet talks about his SummerSlam predictions, the potential of WrestleMania emanating from the United Kingdom, and that now widely reported not-so-secret meeting between Shane McMahon and AEW President Tony Khan.
Like an intense scene from the 1999 classic Fight Club, the #4 position is Sirius XM Radio’s home for all things combat sport and professional wrestling, Busted Open.
Host Dave LaGreca speaks with a rotating cast of co-hosts, including Bully Ray, Mark Henry, Tommy Dreamer, Thunder Rosa, and Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler). The show covers the latest in professional wrestling news throughout the industry, with special emphasis on WWE, AEW, NJPW, and TNA.
In this latest episode, the team discusses Bryan Danielson’s announcement that his wrestling contract with All Elite Wrestling is almost up.
5) Jim Cornette Experience | –
Coming in at #5 is the only man to be featured twice in the Top 5, ever controversial – yet authentic – Jim Cornette. In this vain, Cornette reminds us of Scarlett Johansson, who starred in two films nominated for Academy Awards in 2012. Respectfully, this is just about where the comparisons between Jim Cornette and Scarlett Johansson end.
In the latest episode of the Jim Cornette Experience, “This week on the Experience, Jim takes a Deep Dive into his 1984 Mid-South schedule! Plus Jim reviews AEW’s new look Collision & last week’s Smackdown! Also, Jim talks about AEW’s potential future growth, camp, agents, and more!”
AEW has been working hard to regain momentum after facing backstage issues in 2022 and 2023. Unfortunately, another backstage incident involving two of the company’s top stars has been brought to public light, posing a challenge for company president Tony Khan.
According to reports from the Wrestling Observer and Fightful Select, former AEW Women’s Champion Britt Baker has been suspended by AEW due to a backstage incident last month involving her, current AEW American Champion MJF, and his real-life partner and AEW broadcast talent Alicia Atout. The situation reportedly stems back to previously unresolved issues between the two talents, as the two are said to have had a “falling out” sometime in 2023.
Allegedly, Baker made comments about MJF inside the women’s locker room, which Atout, who was present at the time, overheard. This led to confrontations between Baker and MJF, Atout, and even AEW star Will Ospreay. Per Fightful, Human Resources was brought to investigate the situation, leading to Baker’s eventual suspension.
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. returns to action RIGHT NOW against “The Shining Samurai” Hikaru Shida!
As of this writing, neither the parties involved nor the company itself have made any public comments on the situation. The suspension is said to have no effect on Britt Baker’s availability for AEW’s biggest pay-per-view of the year in ALL IN, where she is set to take on Mercedes Moné for the self-proclaimed CEO’s TBS Championship.
Britt Baker surprised All Elite Wrestling fans by making her return at the company’s cross-promotional pay-per-view Forbidden Door after a nine-month hiatus. On July 24th, Baker competed in her first match of 2024, taking on Hikaru Shida on AEW Dynamite. She stepped into the ring for the first time since September 2023.
Hollywood A-Lister Ben Affleck is reportedly interested in playing Hulk Hogan in an upcoming film based on the infamous Gawker lawsuit. PW Insider reports that Killing Gawker is currently being set up with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Artist Equity and hopes to launch production in January 2025.
Affleck is reportedly “eyeing” the leading role as Hulk Hogan, while Damon is said to be interested in playing venture capitalist Peter Thiel. A screenplay was reportedly written by Charles Randolph based on Ryan Holiday’s book Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue.
The Hulk Hogan-Gawker Lawsuit
In October 2012, Gawker posted a sex tape of Hogan with Heather Clem, the wife of Bubba The Love Sponge. In response, Hogan sued the company and several employees and affiliates who had shared portions of the tape. Hogan sought $100 million in damages and in March 2016, a jury of four women and two men voted in his favor. The wrestling legend was awarded $115 million in compensatory damages, which included $60 million for emotional distress. Three days later, Hogan was awarded an additional $25 million in punitive damages.
Thiel, a co-founder of PayPal, paid $10 million to help finance lawsuits against Gawker, including Hogan’s litigation against the company. In 2007, Gawker had published an article outing Thiel as gay without his consent.
Gawker attempted to file an appeal, but in June 2016, three months after the Hogan verdict, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and put itself up for sale. Gawker CEO Nick Denton would also file for personal bankruptcy.
Hulk Hogan And Films
Killing Gawker isn’t the first film project to be tied to the two-time WWE Hall of Famer. In 2020, it was announced that Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Cabin in the Woods) would portray Hogan in a biopic of his life. Four years later though, the film has not been made and Hemsworth has admitted that he isn’t sure what is happening.
Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther has revealed that his rivalry with The Miz was a significant chapter in his career. The reign that lasted an historic 666 days. During his remarkable run as the champion, ‘The Ring General’ defended the title against the likes of Sheamus, Drew McIntyre, Chad Gable, Jey Uso, and many more. This helped him to transform into the top star that he is today. However, one name that deserves a special mention is The Miz.
The Austrian powerhouse acknowledged that his feud with ‘The A-Lister’ benefitted his career. Speaking on The Ringer Wrestling Show, Gunther said that his matches with The Miz hold massive importance and fans loved it.
“I would say the matches I had with Miz were something that was very important for me. Miz is the total opposite of me. It’s 100 percent the other side of professional wrestling than I am. I was really proud of the matches we had to get to those really competitive, dramatic matches. … The people ate it up. They were there for it.”
(WWE)
Gunther holds his rivalry with The Miz in high regard for not only the matches but also for how the veteran wrestler helped him develop his promo skills. He said:
“Miz was a fantastic counterpart because he’s one of the best in doing that ever on the microphone. He’s maybe the most versatile talent the company has. That was a big challenge for me.”
The Miz is arguably one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. A 20-year veteran of the sport, ‘The A-Lister’ has had a decorated career. He is the first two-time Grand Slam Champion in the company. ‘The Ring General’ had successfully defended his title against The Miz and it certainly elevated him to a top draw.
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus has addressed the challenge issued by Ms. Money In The Bank 2024 Tiffany Stratton.
During the Money in the Bank PLE, Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus had a backstage encounter. The young star wasn’t respectful towards the veteran. Later on during the post-show media scrum, Tiffany Stratton was asked about a potential match against Trish Stratus. The rising superstar stated that she was ready to face the veteran.
While speaking on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez, Trish Stratus was asked about a possible bout against Tiffany Stratton. Stratus said that her return checked a few boxes and it was dependent on some factors. She said:
“Hey listen, I told you I checked some boxes when it’s time for a comeback. It’s not about nothing; it’s about something, right? It’s about a few things. Will the fans be interested? Is this a challenge for me as a performer? Going back as a heel was a challenge for me and something different for the fans.”
She highlighted how working with Zoey Stark influenced a different generation. The 7-time Women’s Champion didn’t rule out a possible return and added that if Tiffany Stratton keeps running her mouth then she might come back to put her in place. Stratus stated:
“Working with Zoe checked the box of influencing a different generation or impacting someone else along the way. So, yeah, as I’m saying these out loud, it’s checking those boxes. There are a few boxes being checked, you know? And again, like I said, if I can go back, 100%, I will and I’ll consider it. But I don’t know; if she [Tiffany Stratton] keeps running her mouth, maybe you’ve got to put some people in their place. What can I say?”
Stratton has been one of the fastest-rising wrestlers in the company. She had a successful run in NXT, where she became the NXT Women’s Champion. The youngster was then called up to the main roster and she has been making waves on SmackDown.
Facing Trish Stratus would certainly elevate Tiffany Stratton’s career. However, the WWE legend hasn’t stepped foot inside the ring in a while. Trish Stratus, who recently hosted WWE Money In The Bank PLE, last competed in September. She faced Becky Lynch in a Steel Cage match in a losing effort.
Some of the top players for the Manchester City soccer team made a surprise appearance at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando this week, mere weeks after the launch of an exclusive WWE x ManCity merchandise collaboration at WWE Shop. The team shared photos of the players at the state-of-the-art training facility:
The team met with some of the top names in WWE NXT, including Trick Williams, Thea Hail, Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez, and North American Champion Oba Femi. England’s very own Robbie Brookside, who now works as a trainer in the PC, was also in attendance.
WWE and Manchester City
This meeting of WWE and the soccer team comes mere weeks after the two sides signed an agreement that has seen exclusive merchandise created. CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin have all seen Man City-themed merchandise created and the original announcement also named Becky Lynch, who has since parted ways with WWE.
The highly successful club is currently on a tour of the United States with a kit that features the WWE logo and a red outline to signify the red swipe of WWE’s branding. The tour was announced via a video of WWE icon John Cena and Man City megastar Erling Haaland.
WWE’s merchandise collaboration with Manchester City is a unique agreement but one that has made fans of both entities very happy. It remains to be seen who WWE will collaborate next, but clearly, the promotion’s merchandising efforts won’t be confined to just the wrestling industry.
Don’t miss any news about wrestling merchandise in and out of WWE by checking in with our Merchandise hub right here on SE Scoops.
WWE Women’s Champion Bayley believes there is work to be done with the Women’s Tag Team Titles before WWE looks at introducing a mid-card championship. On Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast, Bayley said would “love” for women on the main roster to have a mid-card championship of their own, believing it would help “a lot of other women shine.” Before then though, the Role Model feels more needs to be done with the already-established Women’s Tag Team Titles.
“As proud as I am of the Women’s Tag Team Titles, they also don’t always get that time. They don’t always get those matches… I just feel like they need a little more TLC (tender loving care), a little more love because so many women have been able to hold them but we haven’t been able to like have that match yet where it’s like ‘Okay, we solidified the women’s tag team division, now it’s bringing in another one.'”
Bayley’s support for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships is hardly a surprise. The Role Model was one of the more vocal proponents for introducing the titles during the late 2010s. In 2019, she and Sasha Banks (now Mercedes Mone) became the first-ever Women’s Tag Team Champions and would hold the gold again the following year.
The ‘Curse’ of the Women’s Tag Team Championships
Many have said that the Women’s Tag Titles are ‘cursed’ thanks to a mix of stop-start focuses on the division as well as other unfortunate factors. The titles were stripped from Sasha Banks & Naomi after they walked out of WWE in May 2022. The titles would be left vacant for months before being won by Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez. That pair would lose the titles mere weeks later and Aliyah would vanish from TV before her release the next year.
In May 2023, Rodriguez and Liv Morgan were stripped of the titles when Morgan suffered a shoulder injury. Less than two months later, Sonya Deville would suffer an ACL tear as champion which ended WWE’s first openly lesbian Superstar first title reign in her nine years with the company.
Raquel Rodriguez, who has held gold in both WWE NXT and the main roster, said in 2022 that she was pushing for a mid-card title for women. In July 2024, it was reported that the idea has been discussed within WWE and that a number of talents have pushed for titles over several years. It was also stated, however, that at this time, plans are not in motion for women’s mid-card titles on the main roster.
2024 King of the Ring GUNTHER is ready to walk into Bash in Berlin as World Heavyweight Champion and believes doing so will be an all-time career high. During a recent interview with Shakiel Mahjouri for CBS Sports, GUNTHER addressed what it’d mean to return to Germany as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
“It’d be the biggest achievement of my career. I think that’s quite obvious. It’s the world’s heavyweight championship. It’s the biggest prize there is to win in this sport. That would be a huge accomplishment but also a big responsibility and challenge.”
WWE Bash in Berlin will take place on August 31, from the Uber Arena in Germany’s capital, and will mark WWE’s first PLE in the European country. GUNTHER has close ties to Germany as he competed for Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) from 2007 to 2020, when he would join WWE. As part of the German promotion, GUNTHER became a three-time Unified World Wrestling Champion and four-time World Tag-Team Champion, with one of those reigns being with future NXT UK rival Ilja Dragunov.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on GUNTHER’s quest to become World Heavyweight Champion and all the latest on WWE Bash in Berlin.
Fans who attended a recent AIW event were surprised to see the WWE Tag Team Champions #DIY made an appearance during the show. At AIW’s Against The World on August 1, the WWE Tag Team Champions surprised fans and earned a loud ovation from those in Cleveland. The show also featured the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) who are reportedly set to join WWE after finishing with TNA earlier this year.
Johnny Gargano & Ciampa showed up at AIW Wrestling
Gargano started with AIW in 2005 and was a mainstay for the promotion for years before joining WWE in 2016. During his tenure, he won the AIW Absolute Championship once and the Intense Championship twice. It was during his AIW tenure that Gargano would feud with future WWE names including Tyler Black (now Seth Rollins) and AEW’s Bryan Danielson.
#DIY will defend the WWE Tag Team Championships on tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown against The Bloodline (Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu.) The Bloodline earned the title opportunity by winning a gauntlet match during last week’s edition of the blue brand and marks the first title shot for both Tonga and Fatu since joining WWE earlier this year. Gargano and Ciampa have held the gold since dethroning A-Town Down Under on the July 5, edition of SmackDown.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa and for results and more for tonight’s edition of WWE SmackDown.
Jacob Henry, son of WWE legend Mark Henry, is joining the WWE family. The 18-year-old wrestler committed to the University of Oklahoma broke the news Thursday night at his father’s set at Remix Rumble in Cleveland.
He teased some big news, which prompted an NXT chant from the crowd. He’s going to be a future superstar and it’s been put on paper.
“I have officially signed a deal with the WWE,” he said. “It’s official, I’m locked in.”
Watch Jacob Henry announce he’s signed with WWE:
BREAKING NEWS! Jacob Henry announces that he’s signed with @WWE during Mark Henry’s set at Remix Rumble! pic.twitter.com/gzOq0Ay0YH
Mustafa Ali is finishing up with TNA Wrestling and released the following ‘political statement’ addressing his run with the company.
Ali debuted for TNA in the main event of No Surrender, where he challenged and defeated Chris Sabin for the TNA X-Division Championship. He is ‘stepping down’ to focus on independent bookings.
MUSTAFA ALI
August 1, 2024
My Fellow Citizens of TNA,
Over the past six months, we have made great progress as a company.
Today, TNA has the strongest fanbase in the world. We’ve made historic investments in rebuilding our X-Division, in lowering the number of senior citizens on our roster, and in expanding affordable tickets to a record number of fans worldwide. We’ve provided critically needed entertainment to millions. Passed the first “limits” rule for the X-Division in 22 years. Featured the X-Division Championship on the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated for the first time since 2006. Appointed the first Pakistani-Indian American as champion. Main evented recording breaking attendance shows. TNA has never been better positioned to lead than we are today.
I know none of this could have been done without you, the citizens of TNA. Together, we overcame unfit and unfair leaders. We’ve protected and preserved our X-Division. And we’ve revitalized and strengthened our alliances with promotions all around the world.
It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your X-Division Champion. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the X-Division for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my independent obligations for the remainder of my term.
I will not speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.
For now, let me express my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked so hard to see me reelected. I want to thank Campaign Singh for being an extraordinary campaign manager in all this work. And let me express my heartfelt appreciation to the Citizens of TNA for the faith and trust you have placed in me.
I believe today what I always have: that there is nothing that TNA can’t do-when we do it together. We just have to remember we are TNA.
AEW star Trent Beretta underwent neck surgery on Thursday to replace two broken screws from his previous neck fusion surgery (June 2021). He was reportedly injured at AEW Double or Nothing during his grudge match against Orange Cassidy.
quick little american neck surgery. turns out I wrestled so hard that two of the screws from my neck fusion broke. very cool. very tough. screws have been replaced. next I will be doing revenge. pic.twitter.com/43gcXvprvy
Beretta has unfortunately dealt with neck injuries dating back to his time doing motion capture work on the WWE 2K16 video game. During an appearance on Chris Jericho’s Talk is Jericho podcast last summer, he explained that while practicing some of his moves on a crash pad, another wrestler attempted and botched dragon suplex, causing Beretta to land on his head.
Over the next five to six years, that injury combined with the bumps he took in the ring led to severe symptoms that led him to undergo the fusion surgery in June 2021.
AEW star Mercedes Moné is speaking about her divorce for the first time.
Moné actively communicates with her fans on social media and via her official newsletter. In a has new video on her YouTube channel, the AEW TBS Champion shares the details about why she and Sarath Tan are separating.
“Tomorrow finally, after a long, long time, I’ll be finally signing my divorce papers.”
“I’m excited, happy and for me.. I’m just ready to be free. I’m ready to be free of not being afraid. For long, i’ve kept this secret because of how fast life has been going… I just didn’t want the outside world to judge or say anything, especially during a time while all of this is happeninG”
She credits Sarath with saving her life and being an incredible guy that she’s so thankful for.
“Sarath, my ex-husband now, we had such a great relationship, and he’s such an amazing, incredible guy, that I’m so thankful for, he’s another person that changed and saved my life.”
She’s excited to be free and to say that she’s finally getting a divorce. She recalls being asked about her marriage regularly during interviews and not knowing how to handle the subject. They had been separated for a long time, around December 2020. He moved out the following month while she was shooting The Mandalorian while trying to get into the main event of WrestleMania that year, so she was extra-concerned about her privacy at that time. Now, it’s time for her to begin the next chapter of her life.
AEW star Mercedes Moné and her husband Sarath Ton have filed for divorce (dissolution of marriage). They were married on August 4, 2016.
Varnado and Ton, a WWE costume designer best known as Mikaze, met in 2010. He’s credited with designing some of the most iconic outfits worn by her former persona, Sasha Banks.
According to records available at the Clark of the Circuit Cort and Comptroller of Seminole County, Florida, the divorce proceedings were filed Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
