The United States Army reportedly spent a fortune on Dwayne Johnson’s UFL, but it didn’t work out well for the military branch. Military.com reports that the U.S. Army spent $11 million on the UFL with the hope of driving up enlistments. Despite this mammoth effort, the “high-dollar, high-profile deal likely didn’t lead to a single new Army recruit. In fact, the partnership was so poor that it “may possibly have had a negative impact on finding new enlistments” according to internal documents and emails.
The deal between the UFL and the Army was supposed to feature Johnson as a “pseudo brand ambassador” with social media posts by WWE’s Final Boss valued at $1 million each. It’s reported that the Army expected five posts, but Johnson only made two posts. The deal also included UFC players wearing Army branding during games.
In a statement, Laura DeFrancisco, a spokesperson for the Army’s marketing end said “We are in the process of working with the UFL to determine the final cost.” The Army is seeking to regain $6 million of its $11 million payment into the partnership.
The UFL was launched in December 2023 following the merger of the XFL and the USFL. Johnson, alongside business partner Dany Garcia, purchased the XFL in 2020 after Vince McMahon’s attempt to revive the league was snuffed out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This failed partnership with the Army does not reflect well on Johnson, who has faced a series of business shortfalls in recent years, including Black Adam, a film he’d been closely tied to for years, bombing at the box office, and the cancellation of NBC’s Young Rock. It’s been reported that some in WWE believe Johnson’s return to WWE has been an effort to break a ‘losing streak’ by returning to an industry he knows he will be successful in.
Shawn Michaels’ ladder match with Scott Hall at WrestleMania X is one of the most iconic bouts in the history of wrestling. It was the first ever match of the stipulation to be featured on a WWE PPV, which would later become a staple of WWE programming.
The two stars were tasked with recreating the magic at SummerSlam 1995. Even though both the wrestling stars delivered what was asked of them in a big way, HBK believes the match doesn’t get the credit it deserves because of one reason.
Michaels was originally scheduled for a match against Sycho Sid at the Pittsburgh PPV. A late change was made when the feud failed to garner the interest of the audience. During a talk with Sports Illustrated, Shawn mentioned how it was a challenging task to build a face vs. face match in the limited time:
“This one was very different, the whole story going into it was different and very challenging. I will say this–Scott and I did everything we could to make it epic. I think it was.”
While the match ended up stealing the show, Shawn Michaels believes the bout doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, only because it was a rematch:
“Sequels are always tough, but this is one I think that doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves, there’s a simple reason for why: it’s number two. Number one is always first. That’s when the moment shifts. There’s only one first time. I’m still proud of it, but it’s not as special because it’s not the first.”
Scott Hall had picked up the win in their WrestleMania encounter but the former DX member got his revenge in their SummerSlam rematch. This would end up being the final time the two legends faced each other in a singles match.
Giulia is looking to start a revolution when she moves to America.
The Japanese wrestling star recently announced that her last match in the country will be taking place next month, after which she will make her long-anticipated move to America to join the ranks of WWE.
The former Stardom star spoke to Tokyo Sports after her big announcement, and noted that she is determined to make it big in WWE:
“It’s a decision I’ve been thinking about for a long time, so now I have an unwavering resolve. I’ll definitely become big over there and start a revolution so that I can do something that no one has done before.”
Though while American wrestling is in her future, Giulia remains as determined to promote Japanese wrestling. During the interview, she talked about being backstage at the most recent WWE show in Tokyo and noted that the event was on a much different scale than any Japanese promotions.
Giulia Has Big Goals
The female star mentioned how the fans who attended the WWE show were Japanese and wondered why the local promotions can’t attract the same audience. She said that one of her goals now is to improve her performance to gather more fans and make Japanese women’s wrestling as big as possible:
“So I’m going to absorb a lot of things over there and definitely liven up the world. And I’m going to make Japanese women’s wrestling, which I love, big.”
Giulia also talked about Sakurai Mai who she will be facing in her last match in Japan at the August 19 event from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. The former champion said that she wants Sakurai to lead the women’s wrestling in Japan after she leaves.
WWE has not yet confirmed the plans for their newest star. The belief is that she will be introduced in NXT alongside other recent signees Stephanie Vaquer and Delta.
The quotes in the article have been translated using Google Translate
The stars will be coming out for WWE’s tryouts this week in Cleveland, Ohio as part of a stacked SummerSlam weekend in the city. Atrilleon “Trill” Williams, 24, who played football for the University of Syracuse, will be among the participants in this week’s WWE tryouts, PW Insider reports. Williams played in 28 games for Syracuse and had 93 tackles and four interceptions over three seasons.
In 2020, Williams put his name forward for the NFL Draft and was signed by both the Miami Dolphins and The New Orleans Saints at different points. With that said, he never officially played for either team.
Williams isn’t the only notable name expected to attend these tryouts as Elijah Holyfield will also reportedly be a part of the showcase. The 26-year-old has played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the practice squads of the Carolina Panthers and The Cincinnati Bengals. Elijah is the son of boxing icon Evander Holyfield, who appeared for WWE in 2007 in a boxing match with Matt Hardy. The elder Holyfield also attended a WWE SmackDown taping years later.
For the first time ever, fans will be able to watch these tryouts in person as part of WWE’s ‘On Location’ experience. In the past, After these tryouts, WWE will host SummerSlam 2024 on August 3, from the Cleveland Browns Stadium. In 2021, tryouts held over SummerSlam weekend in Las Vegas resulted in Nikkita Lyons, Tatum Paxley, Edris Enofe, Javier Bernal, and Monday Night Raw’s Maxxine Dupri being signed.
Will a future WWE World Champion take their first steps into the squared circle as part of the tryouts this weekend in Cleveland? Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from the SummerSlam tryouts and the Biggest Party of the Summer!
Skye Blue will be out of action for the foreseeable future after the talented AEW and Ring of Honor performer underwent ankle surgery this week. On social media, Blue’s partner, Kyle Fletcher shared that Blue had gone under the knife and asked fans for their support.
— Kyle Fletcher ?????????? (@kylefletcherpro) July 30, 2024
Blue faced Hikaru Shida during an episode of AEW Collision earlier this month but their match was stopped when Blue suffered an injury. This occurred when Shida hit a crossbody to Blue outside of the ring and Skye was seen in pain when she landed. The referee immediately called for medical attention and after a commercial break, it was decided that the match had to be called off.
Blue had to be carried to the back by medical officials as fans chanted her name in a show of respect. On Twitter, Tony Khan confirmed that she had suffered an ankle injury while Fletcher shared a photo of her recovery at home.
we got her home everyone, doctor Kyle on the clock
Here are results from this week’s WWE NXT Great American Bash special on Syfy:
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: The Unholy Union (Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn) defeated Meta-Four (Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend) by pinfall.
Backstage Segment: Pete Dunne wants a match with Trick Williams next week.
NXT Heritage Cup Championship Match: Tony D’Angelo retained over Tavion Heights with a 2-1 score.
Singles Match: Cedric Alexander defeated Brooks Jensen by pinfall.
Backstage: Girls fawned over Joe Hendry and Ashante “Thee” Adonis.
Promo Segment: The Rascalz Treehouse segment where they discussed a potential tag title shot
Concert Segment: Joe Hendry’s live concert mocked Gallus and Booker T until Gallus interrupted and attacked him.
Contract Signing: Oro Mensah and Ethan Page had their contract signing in Ava’s office.
Singles Match: Jaida Parker defeated Kendal Grey by pinfall.
Backstage Segment: Axiom agreed to the tag title match, upsetting Nathan Frazer.
Six-Woman Tag Team Match: Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyx & Fallon Henley defeated Karmen Petrovic, Lola Vice & Sol Ruca by pinfall.
Backstage Segment: Tatum Paxley tried to get Kelani Jordan to play dolls with her, while Wendy Choo was creeping up on her.
Parking Lot Segment: Joe Hendry called out Gallus, expressing his desire to face Joe Coffey next week.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Roxanne Perez retained her title against Thea Hail by pinfall.
The Great American Bash continues next Tuesday on Syfy. WWE NXT returns home to the USA Network the following week, Tuesday, August 6. Visit our NXT News page for more.
AEW Dynamite has been the flagship program for All Elite Wrestling since the company’s inception back in 2019. The show has been running weekly since October 2019 and has produced over 250 original episodes.
Upcoming AEW Dynamite Events
Here are all of the upcoming AEW Dynamite shows as confirmed by the company:
August 7, 2024: Winston-Salem, NC
Event: AEW Dynamite/Rampage Venue: LJVM Coliseum Time: 7:30 PM ET Tickets:Buy Tickets Details: AEW Dynamite and Rampage will rock Winston-Salem with a double taping on Wednesday, August 7th.
August 14, 2024: Norfolk, VA
Event: AEW Dynamite/Rampage Venue: Chartway Arena Time: 7:30 PM ET Tickets:Buy Tickets Details: Norfolk’s Chartway Arena will host AEW’s Dynamite and Rampage on Wednesday, August 14th.
August 21, 2024: Cardiff, Wales
Event: AEW Dynamite/Collision Venue: Utilita Arena Cardiff Time: 18:30 GMT Tickets:Buy Tickets Details: AEW crosses the Atlantic to Cardiff, bringing Dynamite and Collision to the passionate wrestling fans in Wales on Wednesday, August 21st ahead of All In from Wembley.
August 28, 2024: Champaign, IL
Event: AEW Dynamite/Rampage Venue: State Farm Center Time: 6:30 PM CT Tickets: On Sale: July 12 Details: The company heads to State Farm Center in Champaign, IL on Wednesday, August 28th for a double taping of Dynamite and Rampage.
Helen Maroulis is a name synonymous with excellence in wrestling. As she prepares for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, she stands on the brink of making history once again.
Maroulis first made headlines at the 2016 Rio Olympics by becoming the first American woman to win a gold medal in freestyle wrestling, defeating Japan’s Saori Yoshida, a three-time Olympic gold medalist. This victory not only elevated her profile but also inspired a new generation of female wrestlers in the United States.
Maroulis’s career has seen incredible highs and challenging lows. After her historic win in Rio, she faced a significant setback due to a concussion in 2018, leading to an early exit at the World Championships that year. Despite these challenges, she made a strong comeback, winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first American woman to win two Olympic wrestling medals.
Her consistency and determination have been key to her success. In 2024, she became the first American female wrestler to qualify for three Olympic Games, highlighting her enduring skill and dedication. Her recent victories, including a gold medal at the 2024 Pan American Wrestling Championships, underscore her readiness to compete at the highest level once again.
Maroulis’s journey from a young girl in Rockville, Maryland, to an Olympic champion is one of perseverance and resilience. Training with the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in Arizona, she continues to push the boundaries of women’s wrestling.
Her legacy extends beyond her medals, serving as an inspiration to young athletes everywhere. As Helen Maroulis steps onto the mat in Paris, she carries with her a legacy of triumph and the hopes of many aspiring wrestlers, reminding us all of what can be achieved with determination and passion.
Wrestling Career
Weight Class
Helen Maroulis has competed in various weight classes throughout her career, including the 55 kg, 53 kg, and 57 kg categories.
Early Life
Helen Louise Maroulis began wrestling at the age of seven when she was asked to be her younger brother’s drilling partner. Helen’s passion for wrestling grew, and she pursued it fervently, even competing against boys throughout her early years.
She made history in high school by becoming the first female wrestler to place at the Maryland Boys’ State Championship. She later attended Marquette Senior High School and then Missouri Baptist University before transferring to Simon Fraser University in Canada.
Amateur Wrestling
Maroulis’ wrestling career is distinguished by numerous accolades. She won her first World Championship gold medal in 2015 and repeated this feat in 2017.
At the Pan American Games in 2011, she secured a gold medal, marking her as a top contender on the international stage.
Despite facing significant challenges, including a severe concussion in 2018, Maroulis continued to excel, winning medals at various championships, including the 2021 World Championships where she won gold in the 57 kg category.
Olympics
Helen Maroulis made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics by becoming the first American woman to win a gold medal in women’s freestyle wrestling. She achieved this by defeating three-time Olympic gold medalist Saori Yoshida of Japan.
Maroulis continued her Olympic success by winning a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She has now qualified for her third Olympic Games, set to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Helen Maroulis Movie
Maroulis’ journey through the challenges of her wrestling career, including her battles with concussions and PTSD, is documented in the movie “Helen: Believe.”
Produced by actor Chris Pratt, the film premiered in the spring of 2023 in the build up to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
For the 2024 Paris Olympics, she will be competing in the women’s freestyle 57 kg weight class.
Links To Pro Wrestling
Although the Olympic Champion has not revealed that she is considering a move into pro wrestling in the future, the pathway for her to do so has been paved by the likes of Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar and more recently, Tamyra Mensah-Stock.
Kurt Angle even revealed back in 2016 that his daughter Sophia was a big fan of Maroulis, even more than him!
Rhea Ripley has rapidly ascended the ranks of professional wrestling to become one of WWE’s most beloved superstars in modern times.
Known for her powerful in-ring presence and striking look, Ripley has captivated audiences worldwide, earning a litany of Championships across RAW, SmackDown, NXT and NXT.
Here, we delve into the key phases of her career, personal life, and the milestones that have shaped her into the iconic Superstar that she is right now.
Early Wrestling Career
Rhea Ripley, born Demi Bennett on October 11, 1996, in Adelaide, South Australia, began her professional wrestling career on the independent circuit in 2013.
Competing under her real name, she quickly made a name for herself in promotions like Riot City Wrestling and New Horizon Pro Wrestling.
NXT UK
In 2017, Ripley joined WWE and participated in the inaugural Mae Young Classic. Though she didn’t win, she would end up joining the original NXT UK roster.
In August 2018, she made history by becoming the inaugural NXT UK Women’s Champion, defeating Toni Storm in the finals of a tournament to crown said Champion.
Ripley held onto the title for 139 days, showcasing her dominance and paving the way for future successes in WWE.
NXT
After her tenure in NXT UK, Ripley moved to the NXT brand in 2019. She quickly established herself as a top contender and won the NXT Women’s Championship by defeating Shayna Baszler in December 2019.
Ripley would then make history by defending the title at WrestleMania 36 against Charlotte Flair in the first time that a Royal Rumble winner (Flair) would challenge an NXT Champion with their guaranteed title shot at ‘Mania.
Main Roster
Ripley made her main roster debut on Raw in March 2021, challenging Asuka for the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 37.
Throughout her main roster journey, Ripley has held the Raw Women’s Championship, WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, and the SmackDown Women’s Championship, which was later renamed the Women’s World Championship.
Personal Life
Rhea Ripley Husband
Rhea Ripley is married to fellow wrestler and AEW star Buddy Matthews, whose real name is Matthew Adams.
The couple, both hailing from Australia, announced their engagement in August 2023 and tied the knot in June 2024.
Rhea Ripley Wedding
Ripley and Matthews’ wedding was a significant event, and the couple shared their big day on social media, with Ripley captioning a photo of their kiss with “Til death. ?23.06.24.”
The wedding featured a gothic theme, with both dressed in black.
Rhea Ripley Return
Rhea Ripley made a surprise return to WWE Raw in July 2024 after a hiatus due to an injury.
Throughout her career, Ripley has faced several injuries. Her most recent injury occurred in April 2024, leading to her vacating the Women’s World Championship and Liv Morgan then becoming the new Women’s World Champion.
WWE RAW is the flagship programme of the company, but how can you get tickets to watch a Monday night show live?
With a litany of top Superstars appearing on the show weekly, including CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley, it’s always worth getting to see WWE live when you get the chance as it is a VASTLY different experience than watching from your couch.
Here, we’re going to go through how you can purchase tickets to WWE RAW, whether you’re looking to get them for yourself or as a gift for the holidays or birthdays!
The most reliable and official source to purchase WWE RAW tickets is through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster provides an extensive range of ticket options, including standard tickets, VIP packages, and exclusive offers.
Select Your Event: Browse through the list of upcoming WWE RAW events and select the one you want to attend.
Choose Your Seats: There is an interactive seating chart where you can then pick your preferred seats dependent on how close you’re looking to get to the ring.
Purchase Tickets: Once you’ve picked you’ll then just have to follow the checkout process to get your tickets.
How to Download the Ticketmaster App
Downloading the Ticketmaster app for iOS and Android is a good way to keep on top of getting tickets from the site. If you’ve never done it before here is exactly what you need to do for each device:
For iOS Devices
Open the App Store: Unlock your iPhone or iPad and open the App Store application.
Search for Ticketmaster: In the search bar, type “Ticketmaster” and press enter.
Download the App: Find the Ticketmaster app in the search results. Tap the download icon (a cloud with an arrow) to start downloading.
Install the App: Once the app is downloaded, it will automatically install on your device.
For Android Devices
Open Google Play Store: Unlock your Android device and open the Google Play Store app.
Search for Ticketmaster: In the search bar, type “Ticketmaster” and press the search icon.
Download the App: Locate the Ticketmaster app in the search results. Tap on it and then select “Install.”
Install the App: The app will start downloading and automatically install on your device.
Setting Up the App
Sign In or Create an Account: Open the app and sign in with your Ticketmaster account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one within the app.
Enable Notifications: Make sure that you allow notifications to stay updated on upcoming events, ticket sales, and other important information.
Explore Features: Browse events, manage your tickets, and access special offers through the app’s user-friendly interface.
Secondary Marketplaces
If tickets are sold out on Ticketmaster, you can always consider reputable secondary marketplaces like StubHub or Vivid Seats.
With these sites offering secondhand tickets, there is a good chance that you could get a bargain for RAW to get a much better seat than you would on the likes of Ticketmaster, but it is always a risk waiting to grab something at the last minute.
WWE 2K25 is already generating buzz among wrestling and gaming fans following the immense success of WWE 2K24. Expectations are high for the next instalment in the franchise, with 2K Games hoping to take the hot streak of current WWE programming and translate that to gaming consoles and PC.
Here’s a comprehensive look at the latest news, rumors, potential release date, and roster predictions for WWE 2K25 right now:
News
The development of WWE 2K25 is reportedly well underway. Following the positive reception of WWE 2K24, 2K Games and Visual Concepts are focused on continuing to improve the series. According to a report by WrestleTalk, WWE 2K25’s development has started with the aim of refining the gaming experience even further. The team behind the game is likely looking to build on the innovative changes introduced in WWE 2K22 and further enhanced in WWE 2K23 and WWE 2K24.
Rumors
There are several rumors surrounding WWE 2K25, and one of the most intriguing is the potential for new gameplay features and match types.
One rumor suggests that WWE 2K25 will have an even more extensive roster than its predecessor, possibly including several legends and new superstars who have made an impact over the past year. Names like Jacob Fatu, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa are all pretty much dead certs for the 2K25 roster, considering their massive impact since debuting in 2024 with The Bloodline.
It’s worth noting of course that these rumors are just that, rumors, and won’t be confirmed until closer to the release of the game itself.
Potential Release Date
When can fans expect WWE 2K25 to hit the shelves? According to a report from EssentiallySports, Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of 2K Games, has confirmed that WWE 2K25 is scheduled for release in Fiscal 2025.
This timeline suggests that the game will likely be released between March and April, 2025.
Historically, WWE 2K games have been released in March, aligning with the hype of WrestleMania season, so we expect similar timeframe for WWE 2K25.
Cover Star Predictions
As you’ve probably guessed from the featured image of this article, we believe that Rhea Ripley will be the cover star for WWE 2K25, considering her massive popularity right now which is only likely to grow heading into 2025 and WrestleMania 41 season.
WWE 2K25 Roster
Predicting the roster for WWE 2K25 is always a fun exercise, especially with so many talented performers stepping up every year and the chance to bring back some legends.
Legends
Here are some of the legends that we predict will be getting a showing in WWE 2K25:
Thea Hail may never have made a name for herself in the world of wrestling had it not been for a video of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio. Sitting down with the Pittsburgh City Paper, Hail, a native of the city, recalled her start in the squared circle.
“I quit gymnastics, I quit cheer, I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life, and I was just scrolling through Instagram, and I always follow[ed] WWE. I always thought it was amazing, but I never really thought it was a thing you could do. I saw this video of Rey Mysterio, and I just put my phone down, and went, ‘I’m doing that.’”
Hail added that her dad was able to locate a training school in Pittsburgh which resulted in her receiving an AEW Dark match against Thunder Rosa. While Hail’s future would be with WWE, Rosa got her in contract with a recruiter from WWE.
Hail has since become one of the most popular women in WWE NXT thanks in no small part to her skills in the ring and infectious personality. Hail will challenge NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez tonight at WWE NXT Great American Bash (Night One.) Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from tonight’s show.
Rey Mysterio: Inspiration
Hail isn’t the only current WWE Superstar to be inspired by Rey Mysterio. Though they are currently at odds, Dominik Mysterio has said that he was inspired to enter the ring after seeing his ‘deadbeat’ father in action. Dominik’s ‘Mami’ Rhea Ripley has also admitted that she was inspired by Rey to become a wrestler and had plenty of Mysterio merchandise when she was growing up.
After facing Rey in 2018, Swerve Strickland shared online that he’d faced his “hero” as the AEW World Champion holds Mysterio in high regard. WWE Hall of Famer Lita has also said she was inspired to wrestle by Rey after her boyfriend at the time watched WCW Monday Nitro and the future Women’s Champion saw Mysterio in action.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Thea Hail as well as the results and surprises from tonight’s WWE NXT Great American Bash show.
Bryan Danielson’s days as a WWE Superstar may be a thing of the past, but the American Dragon could be screaming YES! once again soon. A patent for “YES! YES! YES!” has been filed by Danielson, records from the U.S. Patent and Trading Office website reveal. The filing also includes an image of Danielson from his WWE days wearing a shirt with the phrase in question amid a sea of “YES!” signs.
The YES! Movement
Though originally part of a 2011-2012 heel turn for Bryan in which he’d over-celebrate every single win, “YES!” became a hit with fans. The single-word chant became as associated with Bryan as ‘What’ was with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin and even broke outside the world of pro wrestling. The chant became a fixture of non-wrestling sporting events, in a testament to how popular the chant, and the man behind it, had become.
Danielson will have plenty of reasons to say “YES! YES! YES!” should he emerge victorious at AEW All In: London 2024. The August 25, event will see Danielson challenge AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland. Danielson earned the opportunity by winning the 2024 Owen Hart Men’s Tournament. Danielson recently shared that his current AEW deal will expire on August 1, but it has been reported that he will continue to make appearances for AEW past this expiration date.
Former WWE and WCW champion Bill Goldberg recently sat down with wrestling journalist Chris Van Vliet on Insight for a wide-ranging interview. The 57-year old legend discussed his relationship with former WWE boss Vince McMahon, his infamous match with The Undertaker and of course, Bret Hart.
Here are some of the key takeaways of what Goldberg said about:
Vince McMahon’s Broken Promise
Goldberg maintains that Vince McMahon broke a promise for him to receive a proper retirement match:
“If that match was still on the table, it would have been done, I would have thought. But hey, man, I was thinking about it this morning in the shower, right? And I thought, Man, I had one of the best wrestling careers ever and don’t think for one second that I don’t understand that and I don’t appreciate it. And so to sit here and cry over a person not keeping his word in a business, that’s as cutthroat as humanly possible and he gets cast out.”
His Dud Match With The Undertaker
Goldberg discussed his disappointing match with The Undertaker at WWE Super Showdown 2019, which he blames on giving himself a concussion before he even made it into the ring.
“I knocked myself out before walking to the frickin ring. You know, when I came back, intensity is something very hard to replicate and I had forgotten my sequence to the ring. I had forgotten my preparation.”
His Relationship With Bret Hart
Goldberg and Bret Hart’s bitter feud is well-documented. Hart blames Goldberg for cutting his career short due to injures he sustained during their match at WCW Starrcade 1999. For all that’s been said about it, Goldberg admits mistakes were made.
“It was a screw-up in the match and it’s live on national television. There’s two people that have to dance and you can only do so much and I mean, things went awry. It is what it is.”
Goldberg says it’s time to move on and leave the bitterness behind them, especially since he claims Hart accepted a favor from him after he got injured.
“I really don’t care anymore about Bret, I couldn’t care less. You know Louis, right? All I can tell you is this. Louis and I know and [Brian] Knobbs knows, through Legends of Wrestling that shortly thereafter all that sh*t that happened. I talked Louis into giving Bret Hart a job at Legends of Wrestling. He must forget about stuff like that.”
Catch a new episode of WWE NXT tonight, July 30 broadcasting live from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL. Tonight begins this year’s NXT: The Great American Bash special, which concludes next week.
Programming Note: Like WWE Raw, tonight’s WWE NXT (and next week’s) will air 8 PM ET on Syfy due to USA Network’s coverage of the 2024 Olympic games.
The advertised match card for NXT: The Great American Bash – Week 1 includes:
NXT Championship: Ethan Page (c) vs. Oro Mensah
NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez (c) vs. Thea Hail
NXT Heritage Cup Match: Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Tavion Heights
NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship: The Unholy Union (c) vs. The Meta-Four
Plus, we’ll be treated to a special performance by TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry.
Tune in tonight for all the action as we begin the Great American Bash celebration, and keep it locked to SEScoops for more NXT News.
Giulia will compete for the final time in Japan within a matter of weeks amid reports that she will soon be appearing for WWE. Last weekend, Giulia shared that she had an important announcement to make which would be made in the historic Korakuen Hall.
At a Dream Star Fighting Marigold show, Giulia teamed with Marigold World Champion Sareee to defeat Victoria Yuzuki and Kizuna Tanaka. After the match, Giulia shared that August 19, will mark her final match in Japan and vowed to challenge the world of professional wrestling.
Giulia’s announcement comes amid several reports that the former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion is coming to WWE. In late 2023, it was reported that WWE and Giulia had been in talks and speculation grew after she appeared at NXT Stand & Deliver in April 2024. Giulia was seated alongside William Regal and Marigold founder Rossy Ogawa, and was later seen backstage with Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.
Should she compete for WWE, Giulia will be part of something of a renaissance with the hiring of female talent. Stephanie Vaquer, who dethroned Giulia as NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, has signed with WWE mere days after appearing at AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door. It has also been reported that DELTA has signed with WWE. The Australian wrestler reportedly impressed during tryouts in Perth over Elimination Chamber weekend in February of this year.
The Miz has been revealed as the host of the WWE SummerSlam Premium Live Event which will take place in his hometown, Cleveland, Ohio. During the latest edition of Raw, ‘The A-Lister’ himself made the massive announcement. The Miz revealed that he will be hosting this year’s ‘Biggest Party of The Summer.’
During the segment, his tag team partner R-Truth was also involved who cracked a few jokes. He mistook when The Miz said “his house” which he referred to Cleveland. The segment closed with the SummerSlam host promising both R-Truth and Cathy Kelley about bringing the hors d’oeuvres.
This isn’t the first time that he is hosting a WWE PLE. In the past, he was the host of SummerSlam 2013. He also hosted last year’s WrestleMania 39 when WWE went to Hollywood.
Last month, The Miz and R-Truth dropped the WWE World Tag Team Championships against The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and JD McDonagh.
Meanwhile, WWE SummerSlam: Cleveland is stacked with some huge matches. The show will feature the in-ring returns of Rhea Ripley and CM Punk. While ‘The Eradicator’ will have a shot to reclaim the Women’s World title against Liv Morgan. On the other hand, ‘The Second City Savior’ will finally face his arch-nemesis Drew McIntyre with Seth Rollins being Special Guest Referee.
Reports about Lucha Brothers’ Rey Fenix suggest that his contract with AEW is running out later this year.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that Penta El Zero Miedo’s AEW contract is set to expire this year and that he has drawn interest from WWE. It has been reported that Penta’s contract with AEW will end between August and September of this year.
Pentagon not the only one whose contract is expiring, according to a new report by Fightful Select It’s come to light that his brother and tag partner Rey Fenix’s contract with AEW is also set to expire soon. Similar to Penta, Fenix is also expected to have interest from WWE.
AEW understandably wants to retain the Lucha Bros. and negotiations have been ongoing. Unless AEW makes an offer they can’t refuse, Fenix and Pentagon may want to enter free agency and see if they can start a bidding war and raise their final contract value.
Rey Fenix and Penta El Zero Miedo have been among the AEW originals since 2019. The Lucha Bros have held the AEW World Tag Team Championships and the brother duo pair are also former AEW World Trios Champions with Pac.
Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix have performed across various prominent promotions including AAA, CMLL, TNA, NJPW, MLW, and more. While the list misses WWE, there is a huge possibility that the duo might make their presence felt in the Stamford-based company. Recently, a handful of former AEW stars such as Jade Cargill, Dragon Lee, Ethan Page, and Lexis King (Brian Pillman Jr.) have joined WWE and The Lucha Bros could follow suit.
Finn Balor is bruised and battered after sharing the ring with Gunther in the headlining match on last night’s Raw. It is needless to mention that ‘The Ring General’ is one of the hardest hitters inside the squared circle. He once again had his thunderous chops on display against Balor.
Following the match, WWE dropped a couple of photos of Finn Balor on social media. The photos revealed Balor’s bruised chest as a result of a series of chops from Gunther.
The highly anticipated contest featured some spectacular spots. The final moments of the match saw Balor climbing up to the top rope and attempting the Coup De Grace. However, Gunther managed to dodge the move and countered with a Sleeper hold. Balor eventually passed out and the ref awarded the win to ‘The Ring General.’
Following the match, Gunther tried to send a message to the World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. He didn’t relinquish the hold on Balor even after the match ended. Priest rushed down to the ring to the aid of Balor. The show concluded with Priest and Gunther brawling outside the ring.
Gunther is posing to be a massive challenge to Damian Priest. ‘The Ring General’ earned a World Heavyweight Title shot after winning this year’s King Of The Ring Tournament by defeating Randy Orton.
On the other hand, Damian Priest has been a fighting champion and he has successfully defended his title against the likes of Seth Rollins, Jey Uso and Drew McIntyre. ‘The Archer of Infamy’ will now put his title on the line against Gunther at this Saturday’s SummerSlam PLE in Cleveland, Ohio.
There were a number of big moments during the go-home WWE RAW ahead of SummerSlam leading up to the ‘Biggest Party of the Summer.’ Seth Rollins “confirmed” the stipulations for the CM Punk vs Drew McIntyre match, the Wyatt Sicks unmasked and took out the Creed Brothers and
WWE has now uploaded all of the video highlights for the show to their official YouTube channel, which we have compiled in an easy to view format on one page below.
If you didn’t get the chance to watch the show in full, you can see a Full Recap of WWE RAW this week via the video below:
WWE RAW Segments This Week
Special Guest Referee Seth “Freakin” Rollins lays down the law with CM Punk and Drew McIntyre prior to their SummerSlam showdown.
After The Creed Brothers defeat Otis and Akira Tozawa, Maxxine Dupri sends a painful post-match message to Chad Gable.
The Wyatt Sicks interrupt Chad Gable, and a melee ensues.
One week after her victory over Zoey Stark, an already injured Zelina Vega is attacked by Stark, Sonya Deville and Shayna Baszler.
Pete Dunne cost his former Brawling Brute cohort Sheamus his match against “Big” Bronson Reed.
After “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio told her off in humiliating fashion, Liv Morgan looks to make him and the rest of The Judgment Day suffer.
Carlito fails to teach “Main Event” Jey Uso a lesson on behalf of The Judgment Day.
Xavier Woods vs Karrion Kross
Karrion Kross once again attempts to get Xavier Woods to join Final Testament during their one-on-one showdown.
Sami Zayn’s match against “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio results in a brawl involving The Judgment Day, Bron Breakker and “Main Event” Jey Uso.
Damage CTRL attack moments after Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark defeat Lyra Valkyria, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance in a Six-Woman Tag Team Match.
WWE RAW Finn Balor vs GUNTHER
A matchup pitting Finn Bálor against Gunther leads to a post-match ambush by World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest on The Ring General en route to SummerSlam.
Sami Zayn believes Bron Breakker is more than just a guy with incredible agility and fans will realize that he is a complete package sooner or later.
The current WWE Intercontinental Champion recently appeared on Busted Open Radio. He discussed things such as his ability to always be an underdog and more.
Speaking about his ongoing rivalry with the former NXT Champion, Zayn mentioned how the 26-year-old has had an incredible rise. He then claimed that Breakker also has a very magnetic personality that fans haven’t seen yet:
“Anybody who takes a look at him, his trajectory has been incredible. His strength and speed obviously, it’s like it jumps off the page. Even personality-wise, I know he’s not there yet in the sense that the fans haven’t seen it yet, but this guy will have a very magnetic personality, eventually, when fans start to see that side of him.”
The Ultimate Underdog claimed that with time Bron Breakker is going to become a very complete player. Per Sami Zayn, there is a lot about him that fans have not seen yet:
“I think with enough time and enough finessing and just the right people telling him the right things, which as you know in our industry could always go awry with the wrong people telling you the wrong things.
I think if he stays the path, he’s going to be a very complete player and he’s gonna be about more than just a strong guy who runs really fast and hits a great spear. I think there is a lot more to his game than that. He’s going to be good; I just hope it’s not at my expense at SummerSlam,”
The son of wrestling legend Rick Steiner, Bron Breakker is one of the biggest success stories of the NXT 2.0 brand under the leadership of Shawn Michaels.
Having made his in ring debut only in October 2020, the former football player impressed everyone immediately. He went on to have a very successful development run with three different title wins in his 3 years with the brand.
Breakker officially got called up in February 2024 when he joined the SmackDown brand. He has since been drafted to Raw. Bron will be looking to win his first main roster title when he challenges Sami Zayn for the IC Championship at SummerSlam this Sunday, on August 5.
WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg recently sat down with Chris Van Vliet of Insight to discuss a variety of topics. Goldberg dominated in WCW with an impressive 173-0 winning streak, a run that would also see him become WCW World Champion. He joined WWE in 2003 and had a much longer run from 2016 to 2022 where he also held World Championship gold.
On Bret Hart
In 1999, a kick from Goldberg (among other issues the Hitman had accumulated) would result in Bret Hart retiring from the ring. In the quarter-century since then, Bret has repeatedly attacked Goldberg’s character and work as a wrestler. On the podcast, Goldberg admitted that he doesn’t care what Bret has to say about him anymore.
“I really don’t care anymore about Bret, I could care less… I talked Louis into giving Bret Hart a job at Legends of Wrestling. He must forget about stuff like that.”
Goldberg added that he and Bret have talked a couple of times since the accident, which Goldberg has always maintained was not intentional. He added that him being a relative rookie in the business did not help matters either.
“I was extremely green in the business and anybody who knows me knows that if I didn’t intend to hurt him, then it was an accident.”
On His WWE Debut
After WCW’s demise, Goldberg waited until the RAW after WrestleMania 19 before he debuted by attacking The Rock, setting up a Backlash 2003 match Goldberg would win. Goldberg said he had a lot of fun working with The Rock.
“Big kudos to him for having you know, the foresight that it would be something that would go over like that, he’s very unselfish. And at the end of the day, it’s a dance man. We all need everyone involved to be a part of it because it’s a well-oiled machine.”
On The Undertaker Match in Jeddah
In 2019, The Undertaker faced Goldberg at that year’s Super Showdown. Given the age and ability of the two, the dream match quickly turned into a nightmare with various botches and mistakes. As Goldberg explained, he was hardly in fighting condition before the match even got started.
“I knocked myself out before walking to the frickin ring… I gotta headbutt the door. And I headbutted the door right when they played my music to wrestle Taker, which was the most unbelievable opportunity ever. And I knocked myself out.”
When asked if he remembered anything from the match given that he was knocked out, Goldberg recalled what he could from the unfortunate bout.
“I remember the referee asking me if I could go on and me saying yes. And then him turning away and then me saying no. And then me saying yes and then me saying no.”
On a Potential Match with Big E
During a viral episode of the New Day’s Feel the Power podcast, Big E mentioned Goldberg as his dream opponent, vowing that the fans will see “Big Meaty Men Slapping Meat!” While Goldberg said he’d give Big E the match tomorrow if he could, their clash of styles could prove difficult for the Hall of Famer.
“We can leave that part out [big meaty men slapping meat] of it… I don’t do comedy. Like, I never really meshed well with that.”
On AEW
In 2023, rumors circulated that Goldberg could be heading to AEW, especially after Tony Khan said he had great conversations with the Hall of Famer. When asked why nothing more came of it, Goldberg suggested that he and Khan have a “different perspective” on things.
“I don’t think I was ever close to making a deal with him. I think it was much more a realistic transition when Sting was involved.”
Goldberg added that he reached out to Sting because he wanted to be a part of the Icon’s farewell tour. While Goldberg would’ve liked to have been a part of things, he’s pleased the focus remained on Sting.
“I could never overshadow anything that he does. I don’t want to convolute the waters. It would have been a nice crescendo but it wasn’t about me.”
Drew McIntyre’s photo with Jack Perry may have been deleted, but that didn’t stop the meeting of the ‘We Hate CM Punk’ club being referenced on RAW. The viral image was shared by McIntyre earlier this month and is of course in reference to Punk’s issues with Perry that resulted in Punk’s termination from AEW last year.
While the image was not featured on this week’s Raw, Michael Cold did bring it up as he spoke during Drew McIntyre’s entrance.
“Drew McIntyre was stirring up things this week… bringing up things from CM Punk’s past.”
Michael Cole: “Drew McIntyre was stirring things up on social media this past week…bringing up things from CM Punk’s past.” ? #WWERAWpic.twitter.com/ebjy3xjXkd
On Monday Night RAW, McIntyre met with CM Punk and Seth Rollins, as the former Universal Champion will officiate their upcoming match at SummerSlam. Rollins, fittingly decked in a black and white striped outfit, made clear that his rules will be in effect this Saturday in Cleveland, whatever they may be.
McIntyre and Punk’s feud has been a hit with fans, and has kept Punk a mainstay of WWE programming in spite of his injury. McIntyre has continued to make reference to Punk’s family, including his dog Larry who now has WWE merch of his own. Not to be outdone, Punk has had some choices words for Drew, and has repeatedly cost him matches for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Will their issues be resolved at SummerSlam, and what role will Seth Rollins play in the finish? Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest.
Kofi Kingston was a big fan of The Rock growing up and so getting to have a promo battle with The Great One was like a dream come true for him.
The New Day star recently had an interview with DraftKings. He discussed things such as his WWE title reign, his feud with Randy Orton and more.
During the interview he was asked about the best insult he has received on the mic. Kingston recalled the time the trio went toe to toe with The Rock and said that it was a really cool moment for them:
“We actually got to go toe to toe with the Rock. For me getting insulted by The Rock was really cool because in college before I went to bed every night, I would look at my Rock poster. I would jump and do a jumping elbow into my dormitory bed and pull my sheets up. That’s how I went to bed.
We brought our A game he brought his A game and he’s insulting us. We had these unicorn horns on our heads and they light up. He said that they were llama penises. You get a Rock promo cut on you, as a kid who grew up watching the Rock cut these Rock promos on other people. I’m like ‘Wait now it’s happening to me. Ooh I should be mad but this is really cool.'”
Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
Kofi Kingston was also inquired about any notable backstage interaction with The People’s Champion. The former champion recalled the advice he received from the Rock that he understood later in his career:
“We had done some media together. I remember like being backstage I just asked him. I said ‘Hey you have any advice or whatever’ and he’s like ‘yeah just don’t take yourself too seriously’ He said ‘Don’t worry about like oh you gotta go out there and look strong.’ At the time I had no idea what he was talking about.
I think a lot of people want to be the big tough guy all the time to the point where you’re like ‘Oh well I can’t have someone say something about me and look stupid out there because oh I’m too tough’ versus ‘Hey let this person say something to me so that I can say something to them so that the crowd and the people can be entertained’
We’re all trying to work together to tell a story. So I didn’t really understand that. Then you fast forward to the New Day and here we are again going out as grown men twerking and shaking our hips and gyrating and wearing these like crazy flamboyant colors.”
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have recently been involved in a rivalry with Karrion Kross. They are currently not booked for the SummerSlam PPV.
Wrestling fans can see generations collide in a new video from WWE’s vault which sees CM Punk in a tag team match against the Road Warriors. In the latest video from the WWE Vault YouTube channel, Punk speaks of the match that saw himself and Doug Delicious face the legendary tag-team. This match was quite a surprise for Punk at the time, as after using a grapevine hammerlock DDT in a separate dark match, he was deemed unsafe in the ring and effectively ‘banned’ from being used again.
Despite this ban, Punk was brought in alongside Delicious to face the Road Warriors as the originally planned opponents for Hawk and Animal were severely lacking in the skills department. It was Sgt. Slaughter who proposed the match to the ‘banned’ Punk. You can check out Punk’s comments and the match in the video below.
This match would be Punk’s second in a WWE ring and holds the unfortunate distinction of being the final WWE match of Road Warrior Hawk. After competing in the Velocity dark match, Hawk died of a heart attack in October that year at the age of 46. He, alongside Animal and Paul Ellering, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.
CM Punk may be one of the biggest names in professional wrestling, but as this match shows, even the top stars have to start somewhere. Punk will return to action this weekend at WWE SummerSlam where he will take on Drew McIntyre.
