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Latest On Meiko Satomura After Announcing 2025 Retirement

Thomas Lowson
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More has come to light about Meiko Satomura after the Japanese wrestling legend and WWE talent shared that she will retire next year. Meiko Satomura The 44-year-old Satomura shared this week that she will hang up her boots in 2025 to mark the 30th anniversary of her in-ring debut. Satomurra’s farewell tour will see her work in the Sendai Girls promotion she founded, in the latest example of WWE collaborating with another promotion.

Latest on Meiko Satomura

Satomura returned to the ring during WWE’s recent tour of Japan, after last competing in WWE NXT in February 2023. Only Satomura and WWE executives know the reasons for her absence, Fightful Select reports. It’s added that NXT talent believe that Satomura is likely focused on completing her WWE contract, with no current plans for her return to NXT TV.

Speculation about a potential WrestleMania match as part of Satomura’s farewell tour was met with skepticism, and there are no plans for her on TV, Fightful adds. NXT personnel were said to be unsurprised by Satomura’s announcement, given her limited involvement with the gold brand for the past year and a half.

Despite not being featured prominently on WWE TV, Satomura has been praised for her coaching by those who worked with her in NXT UK and WWE NXT. There is a regret, however, that her stint with the latter has been sho brief, as the veteran would have plenty to offer those in the gold brand. Fightful reports that Satoumra is concentrating on expanding the Sendai Girls promotion.

Wrestling World Reacts

Although Meiko Satomura’s tenure with WWE post-NXT UK may not have gone as many expected, the veteran continues to be one of the most well-respected women among her peers. On Twitter, PROGRESS Wrestling praised Satomura, who has worked with their promotion in the past.

Bayley, who defended her WWE Women’s Championship against Satomura during the WWE Japan tour, was also grateful to the legend.

Perhaps the most notable reaction to Meiko’s announcement came from AEW’s Emi Sakura, who is eager for a match with the WWE Superstar before she leaves the ring.

Keep tuned to SE Scoops for more on Meiko Satomura as she prepares to say goodbye to the squared circle.

Update On the Health Of WWE Hall of Famer Abdullah The Butcher

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Hall of Famer Abdullah the Butcher is reportedly dealing with health issues that have left the hardcore wrestling legend in hospital. Abdullah has been in hospital for a week in Georgia, PW Insider reports. The wrestling legend has reportedly been dealing with an intestinal issue. He has been promoted for The Gathering in North Carolina, a wrestling convention that will take place in Charlotte from August 1, to August 4. Of course, Abdullah’s status for the show will depend on his health and whether he will be discharged from the hospital in time.

Given his violent nature in the ring, a career that has left his forehead littered with ‘blading’ scars Abdullah has faced several health issues over the years. In June 2014, a court ruled that Abdullah was to blame for Canadian wrestler Devon ‘Hannibal’ Nicholson contracting hepatitis C during a match. Abdullah was ordered to pay $2.3 million in damages. The following year, Abdullah admitted that he was undergoing financial struggles and asked for the help of fans. Abdullah’s final match came in July 2010 at an event for Dragon Gate Pro Wrestling in Hyogo where he teamed with the recently passed Akebono.

Abdullah the Butcher amazed and horrified fans for years in the ring but now the WWE Hall is reportedly under considerable physical strain. We here at SE Scoops would like to wish Abdullah the very best at this time.

Shane Taylor Out With Injury After ROH Death Before Dishonor

Thomas Lowson
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Shane Taylor will be on the sidelines for the foreseeable future after suffering an injury at ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024. The unfortunate news was shared by Tony Schiavone and came after Taylor competed in a Survival of the Fittest match for the ROH TV Championship. The match saw Atlantis retain the title against Taylor, Brian Cage, Lee Johnson, Johnny TV, and Lio Rush.

Despite this injury, Lee’s tag-team partner Brian Cage was still in action during the latest AEW Collision. The Machine teamed with Lee Moriarty, who won the ROH Pure Championship at Death Before Dishonor.

This November will mark a decade since Taylor debuted for Ring of Honor. In December 2022, Taylor returned to the promotion, now under the ownership of Tony Khan. Over his time with the company, he has held the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Titles (with Kaun and Moses) and the ROH World Television Championship.

We here at SE Scoops would like to wish Taylor a speedy recovery. Keep tuned in to SE Scoops for all the goings on in the world of Ring of Honor.

Rossy Ogawa Says Giulia’s Time In Japan Is Ending Amid WWE Rumors

Thomas Lowson
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Giulia’s time competing in Japan will be coming to an end sooner than later, according to Marigold Wrestling founder Rossy Ogawa. Sitting down with Tokyo Sports, Ogawa addressed rumors and reports that Giulia is expected to join WWE.

“It’s true that Giulia doesn’t have that much time (in Japan). I’m not sure how many matches she has left, but it might be best to think of this as the last time you’ll see her at each venue.”

It was first reported in November 2023 that Giulia was believed to be joining WWE in a huge score for the Stamford-based promotion. Speculation that she’d be joining WWE was galvanized when she departed STARDOM in March and when she appeared at WWE NXT: Stand & Deliver the following month.

It has been reported that WWE’s current plan is for Giulia to debut at an NXT PLE over SummerSlam weekend. That will prove easier said than done, given that no such event is due to take place next weekend. NXT will host two weeks of its Great American Bash event over the next two weeks of TV, in a reported effort to combat being decimated in the ratings by the Olympics. WWE NXT’s next PLE will be No Mercy and take place at the Ball Arena in Denver, CO on September 1.

Giulia & Rossy Ogawa

While Giulia is expected to be on WWE TV sooner than later, it may not mark the end of her work with Rossy Ogawa. The Marigold founder, who also founded STARDOM, hopes for WWE and Marigold to work together in the long term with Giulia appearing a handful of times a year for the latter after her WWE debut. WWE and Marigold have already partnered as IYO SKY competed at the Summer Destiny event earlier this month.

Jeff Hardy: ‘I Don’t Want Solo Hall of Fame Spot, Just To Go In With Matt’

Thomas Lowson
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Jeff Hardy is in no hurry to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame after the company’s previous offer “didn’t feel right at all” to the legend.

In late 2021, Hardy’s actions during a WWE live event led the company to suspect that he was using substances and released him after he refused to go to rehab. A drugs test would later reveal that Hardy had not been under the influence of substances. WWE would try and coax Jeff back in early 2022 (an act that’d keep him from joining) AEW but to no avail.

Part of WWE’s efforts to win Hardy back after his release was the promise of a Hall of Fame induction. Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Jeff made clear that going in without his brother Matt (who was with AEW at the time) did not feel right.

“I cried after that phone call. I was just thinking about all the really cool moments I’ve given to the pro-wrestling world. I’m so proud of it, but it didn’t feel right at all. So, I just wanted to wait. If I did do this, I’m definitely doing that with Matt.”

Despite his lofty achievements on his own, include three reigns as a WWE World Champion, Jeff is not interested in a solo induction. In the interview, Hardy made clear that if he is inducted, it’ll be as one-half of the Hardy Boyz, adding “I just want one ring.”

Although Hardy has done more than enough to warrant two inductions, his dedication to his brother Matt trumps any accolade WWE may bestow on the Charismatic Enigma. These days, fans can find Jeff and Matt teaming once more in TNA Wrestling, though Jeff was recently written off TV with an attack by The System.

Related: Jeff Hardy Has “So Much Guilt” & Shame Over Past Mistakes

CM Punk Interested in Teaming With John Cena on Farewell Tour

Thomas Lowson
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CM Punk and John Cena may have been fierce rivals, but the Best in the World is more interested in teaming with the 16-time World Champion soon.

Speaking at a San Diego Comic-Con panel, Punk was asked about who he’d like to team with now that he’s back in WWE. While Punk’s first choice was Larry, his dog who now has official merch, John Cena was his second pick.

“Everybody’s asking me because (John) Cena has announced his retirement that, you know, obviously they wanna see us fight each other. I think there’s something to me and him tagging. I think that can be pretty interesting.”

Cena and Punk feuded in 2011 as part of the acclaimed ‘Summer of Punk’ that included Punk’s scathing Pipebomb on the June 27, 2011, edition of Monday Night RAW. Punk would ‘leave’ WWE as WWE Champion at Money in the Bank that year only to return eight days later and continue his feud with John.

Teaming with Cena was one of the last acts Punk would perform during his first WWE run before walking out of the company in January 2014. The pair last teamed during the December 18, 2013, edition of WWE SmackDown and earned a (DQ) victory over the Shield.

John Cena’s Retirement Tour

Cena shared at Money in the Bank 2024 that 2025 will be his final year wrestling, ending what will be a legendary 23-year career on WWE’s main roster. Already, several names have put themselves forward as potential opponents. Cena’s WrestleMania 27 adversary The Miz has said he’d love to be part of John’s farewell tour, as does ex-WWE Superstar Matt Cardona. Cena has said he does not have (or wish to use) the backstage sway to pick matches for his tour.

Related: 5 Things We Want From John Cena’s WWE Retirement Tour

WWE SmackDown Video Highlights: July 26th 2024

Jake Skudder
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The penultimate episode of WWE SmackDown ahead of SummerSlam had some intriguing moments, which were pre-taped following last week’s episode of the show. The Bloodline managed to secure a big Tag Team Championship match at the PLE and LA Knight managed to get one up on Logan Paul ahead of their US Title match before Santos Escobar got involved, among other highlights.

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.

WWE SmackDown Full Highlights This Week

If you didn’t get the chance to watch the show in full, you can see a Full Recap of WWE SmackDown this week via the video below:

WWE SmackDown Segments This Week

Here are all of the individual Video Highlights that WWE has released this week after SmackDown:

LA Knight addresses the WWE Universe en route to his imminent Santos Escobar match and his SummerSlam title showdown against United States Champion Logan Paul.

LA Knight takes out an interfering Logan Paul before overcoming Santos Escobar en route to the highly anticipated United States Championship Match at SummerSlam.

Seconds after LA Knight thwarts Logan Paul’s interference attempt during his match against Santos Escobar, the United States Champion and The Emperor of Lucha Libre execute a post-match attack on the outspoken Superstar.

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill turn the tables on a sneak attack by WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn and throw them out of the ring.

Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews take on Angel and Berto and The Street Profits in back-to-back matchups during the first part of the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders Gauntlet Match.

Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins overcome Kit Wilson and Elton Prince as well as Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in a WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders Gauntlet Match.

The Bloodline vs The Street Profits

Jacob Fatu and Tama Tonga conquer Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins to win the WWE Tag Team Title No. 1 Contenders Gauntlet Match.

With Randy Orton and Kevin Owens taken out of action by The Bloodline, The American Nightmare prepares to battle the self-appointed Tribal Chief without backup at The Biggest Event of the Summer.

Grayson Waller demands an apology from undefeated two-time undisputed boxing champion Terence Crawford and ends up getting his partner Austin Theory knocked out.

Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax vs Michin and Bayley

Prior to their tag team match against Bayley and Michin, Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax launch an attack on the partner of the WWE Women’s Champion.

Nia Jax joins Ms. Money in the Bank in a controversial win over Bayley and Michin en route to The Role Model’s WWE Women’s Title Match against The Irresistible Force at SummerSlam.

Watch: Baby Jay Briscoe Makes On Screen Debut In Adorable Video With Mark Briscoe

Anutosh Bajpai
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Step aside Roux, King Maxel, and Liberty, cause a new king of cuteness is in town.

ROH presented the 21st annual Death Before Dishonor PPV last night from the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas featuring 7 different title matches.

The main event of the show saw Mark Briscoe defending the ROH World Heavyweight Championship against Roderick Strong. The Kingdom tried to interfere in the bout but Kyle O’Reilly and Tomohiro Ishii helped make the numbers even, and Briscoe came out victorious at the end.

The retaining champion commented on his win in a new backstage video, which was made even special by the on-screen debut of baby Jay Briscoe:

The legacy of Jay Briscoe

Jay Briscoe was one of the longest-tenured talents of ROH. He was part of the company for 19 of its 22 year history.

Along with his brother Mark, Jay helped put the company on the map in many ways and the brothers won the ROH tag team championship a record 13 times during his career.

The wrestling veteran unfortunately passed away in a car crash in January 2023, at the age of 38. The whole wrestling world came together to pay tribute to the deceased star.

Mark Briscoe has continued to honor his brother’s legacy in many ways. He introduced the world to his youngest son Matthew Jamin Pugh in April this year, named after the late Jay Briscoe.

AEW: Ring of Honor?

The struggling ROH brand has found new life under Tony Khan’s leadership since he bought the company in 2022. Death Before Dishonor was another good example of it.

They have been steadily regrowing the interest in the brand by adding names such as Athena, The Von Erichs and Mark Briscoe to the list of talents regularly competing under the Ring of Honor banner.

One thing that has evaded the company still despite best efforts from Khan, however, is a TV deal. Despite featuring ROH talents and championships prominently on AEW TV, Tony has so far failed to convince a TV station to pick up the show.

Though the ROH President floated a very interesting idea for the brand during the post-Death Before Dishonor media scrum last night. He suggested that the show could be brought under the AEW banner to increase its value and finally find a TV partner. You can check out TK’s comments here.

Tony Khan: ‘ROH Would Have A Lot More Value As AEW: Ring of Honor’

Thomas Lowson
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A name change could be in store for Ring of Honor to benefit the brand, according to AEW President Tony Khan. Speaking on the post-Death Before Dishonor 2024 press conference, Khan was asked about the possibility of cohesion between the two entities. Khan said that AEW is “the very top of pro wrestling” and that ROH would benefit from being associated with the All-Elite company.

“I don’t think it’s out of the question to say or sacrilegious to say. I think it would only help grow the ROH brand if I were to license it, sublicense, if it were AEW ROH. I don’t think that’s a crazy thing or sacrilegious or bad. I think it would be good for everybody.”

Later on, Khan discussed the possibility of Ring of Honor being aired on a WBD network channel. Khan reiterated that ROH would “frankly have a lot more value” if a branding change took place.

Tony Khan and Ring of Honor

Khan was among those who launched AEW in 2019 while his acquisition of Ring of Honor was publicly confirmed on the March 2, 2022, edition of AEW Dynamite. Khan’s efforts successfully relaunched Ring of Honor which had gone on hiatus in late 2021 after its Final Battle pay-per-view.

Unlike AEW Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, Ring of Honor does not have a presence on syndicated television. Instead, it was announced in late 2022 that ROH shows would air on the relaunched Honor Club streaming platform.

While Khan is to credit for allowing ROH to not finish for good in 2021, many feel that his handling of the promotion has been sub-par. Ex-ROH Owner Cary Silkin has said that Khan has not treated the promotion well. Eric Bischoff, never shy of making his views on Khan clear, has said that buying the company was a bad investment and that ROH was “insignificant” in the eyes of most fans.

If people are unhappy with Khan’s handling of ROH so far, the stance that the company would do better by being known as an AEW division may do little to win back favor. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on AEW, Ring of Honor, and potential synergy between the two sides.

The Young Bucks On Jack Perry Chair Shot, AEW Blood & Guts 2024

Thomas Lowson
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The Young Bucks recently sat down with The Takedown on SI to discuss this year’s Blood & Guts match. The fourth-ever bout in the violent double-cage structure saw Team AEW (Swerve Strickland, Darby Allin, Mark Briscoe & The Acclaimed) defeat Team Elite (The Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, and ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.)

On The Chair Shot To Jack Perry

In one of the most shocking moments of the match, Jack Perry was struck in the head with a steel chair. Though once commonplace in wrestling, shots like these have been phased out given what is known today about long-term effects. In the interview, Nick Jackson said that Perry, like any AEW talent, is aware of the risks involved in being a wrestler.

Nick: “All I know is Jack is fine, and that’s all that matters. We know the risk we’re taking in the ring and it wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t prepared for it.”

On The Backstage Feedback to the Match

Blood & Guts 4 certainly delivered the violence that fans have come to expect since the bout was introduced in 2021. Matt Jackson was pleased to share that this reception reflects how those felt backstage.

Matt: “I heard a lot of people in the back saying it was the best Blood & Guts ever, so that’s a huge compliment to the men who participated.”

On Facing Mark Briscoe

This year’s Blood & Guts match was hardly the first time that the Young Bucks worked with Mark Briscoe as the tag team’s wars with The Briscoes are well-documented. Matt explained that while Jay is no longer with us, the chemistry of the Bucks and the Briscoes continued to shine in Blood & Guts.

Matt: I was reminded of the amazing chemistry we have. It’s like lightning in a bottle, a type of magic you only have with a very few select opponents.”

Matt was reminded of Jay Briscoe throughout the match and reflected on his passing while sitting in his hotel room after the show.

Matt: “I felt Jay out there with us. I couldn’t stop thinking about him. It was such an overpowering feeling.”

On Coming Up With Ideas

Blood & Guts 4 was always going to be violent and the Bucks, like all involved, paid the toll with their bodies in the name of entertainment. In the interview, Nick explained how the thought process came about for the match.

Nick: “At this point, coming up with the ideas is a lot more fun than executing them. It’s a really intense match.”

On Working with Kazuchika Okada

The match saw the Young Bucks once again team with AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada, who has replaced Kenny Omega in the Elite. Both Matt and Nick are thrilled to have the ‘Rainmaker’ on their side.

Matt: “I couldn’t be prouder to see him trying new things and learning a new style. He’s a movie star with perfect timing, an unbelievable sense of humor, and he just so happens to be the greatest wrestler alive.”

Nick: “He is performing so great and adapting to new matches he’s never been in as well as I’ve seen anyone be able to do it on the fly. It’s been so much fun working with him these last several months. There’s no one better.”

Raj Dhesi Wins Championship In First Match Since WWE Release

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE World Champion Raj Dhesi once again has title gold around his waist after winning at Black Label Pro’s Old Habits event. Dhesi, who entered free agency earlier this month, defeated Dominic Garrini in the show’s main event to win the title in Dhesi’s first match since his release from WWE. Garrini defended the title in place of his Violence is Forever tag team partner Kevin Ku who has been out of action with an injury.

Dhesi, better known to WWE fans as Jinder Mahal, was among those released in April 2024 though that setback has done little to slow his momentum. Dhesi has since shared his ‘Unhindered’ tour dates, a play on the meme of ‘Don’t Hinder Jinder’ that followed him in WWE. Dhesi has also debuted for GCW and will make his in-ring debut for the promotion next month against Effy.

Much like Matt Cardona four years earlier, Dhesi appears poised to make an impact on the independent scene. Following his release, it was reported that promotions were eager to work with Dhesi, especially given that there is a gap for indie wrestling’s top heel since Cardona is out with an injury.

In WWE, Dhesi worked with top names such as Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, and The Rock. While the independents don’t often quite the same names in terms of star power, Dhesi now has a much wider field of potential opponents to work with.

Fans may have been part of the ‘Don’t Hinder Jinder’ movement, but now the message is ‘Don’t Messi with Dhesi.’ Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Raj Dhesi’s journey outside the world of WWE.

Meiko Satomura To Retire in April 2025, Will Compete Outside WWE

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Superstar Meiko Satomura will hang up her boots for good in April 2025 in a journey that will see her compete outside the promotion.

In a press conference, Satomura confirmed her retirement plans, which will mark the 30th anniversary of her professional debut. Satomura’s final match will take place at the historic Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Despite being a WWE-contracted performer, Satomura said at the press event that she will compete in a number of Sendai Girls matches, starting this September. Sendai Girls, also known as Senjo, is a Joshi puroresu promotion founded in 2005 by Satomura and Kensuke Shinzaki, also known to WWE fans as Hakushi.

Satomura’s career in the ring has seen her work with some of wrestling’s biggest promotions including New Japan Pro Wrestling, WCW, STARDOM and others. In 2020, the ‘Final Boss’ joined WWE and competed in NXT UK and would win the NXT UK Women’s Championship. She would hold the title until WWE NXT UK’s demise in September 2022 and lost the title to Mandy Rose at that year’s Worlds Collide. After a lengthy hiatus, Satomura has returned to action as part of WWE’s tour of Japan.

WWE allowing Meiko Satomura the chance to compete for Senjo not only shows the company’s respect for her, but is the latest example of WWE working with another promotion. 2024 has already seen WWE work with TNA, Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport, Marigold Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Hopefully, the 44-year-old Satomura receives a fitting send-off to mark the end of a legendary career in the ring.

Joe Hendry Appears At WWE NXT Live Event After TNA Star’s Name Is Said

Thomas Lowson
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The utterance of Joe Hendry’s name in Davenport, Florida this week resulted in the TNA Wrestling star making an appearance at a WWE NXT live event. In the hours leading up to the July 26, event, Hendry had suggested that he’d be at the show.

True to his word, Hendry appeared at the event to the surprise of the Davenport crowd after Mark Coffey inadvertently said his name. Hendry teamed with Je’Von Evans and Shiloh Hill to take on Gallus. Despite Hendry having Gallus’ number on WWE NXT TV in recent weeks, it was the heels who got the win.

Hendry has been a central part of the ongoing NXT-TNA crossover. After debuting as part of a battle royal, the viral TNA star has since headlined WWE NXT and worked alongside former NXT Champion Trick Williams. Much like the NXT-TNA partnership as a whole, Hendry’s work with the gold brand has proven exceptionally popular, leaving fans eager to see more of this working relationship.

Joe’s next NXT appearance will be this coming Tuesday when he performs a concert at Night One of the NXT Great American Bash. Hendry made sure fans at this week’s show were well aware of the upcoming performance as he gifted signed flyers promoting his segment in the parking lot. If Hendry’s previous concerts are any indicator, fans can expect another viral segment from the Scottish star who’ll have some choice barbs for those on the WWE NXT roster.

Related: Joe Hendry Fan Gets Tattoo of Viral TNA Wrestling Star

Latest On Beth Phoenix: WWE Status, Potential AEW Involvement

Thomas Lowson
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More has come to light about Beth Phoenix’s status with WWE after her profile was changed on the company’s official website. Fans noticed this week that Beth’s profile was removed from the ‘active’ talent section and now is exclusive to the ‘Hall of Fame’ portion of the site.

The Glamazon’s time with WWE has come to an end, PW Insider reports. Despite only recently being pulled from the ‘active’ portion of WWE.com, Phoenix hadn’t wrestled for WWE since February 2023. At the Elimination Chamber PLE in Montreal, Beth and her husband Edge (now AEW’s Adam Copeland) defeated The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor and Rhea Ripley.

Phoenix parted ways with WWE in 2012 but returned in 2017 to be inducted into that year’s Hall of Fame. The induction marked the shortest period of time for a female wrestler to be inducted after her retirement. It’s not just WWE’s Hall of Fame that recognizes the Glamazon’s achievements as in 2019, she became the first woman to be inducted in the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. In addition to being a wrestler, Phoenix was a commentator for WWE NXT from May 2019 to December 2021.

Beth Phoenix And AEW

Beth has been backstage at several AEW shows ever since her husband joined the promotion in October 2023. The topic of Phoenix appearing for the company has been broached backstage, Fightful Select reports. Sources indicated that Phoenix is in amazing condition and could likely compete in an AEW ring if she chose to. Phoenix has already made a cameo for AEW, as the ‘You Think You Know Him?’ lyric from Copeland’s entrance theme is provided by his wife.

Signing Beth Phoenix would be a huge score for Tony Khan who has brought in Mercedes Mone, Kamille, and Mariah May in 2024 alone. Keep tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Beth Phoenix’s future in the world of professional wrestling.

CM Punk On AJ Lee’s Wrestling Return: She Knows There’s Options

Anutosh Bajpai
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CM Punk says AJ Lee is well aware of the options she has in terms of a potential wrestling return but it’s not something he is pushing her to do.

The potential return of the former Divas Champion continues to be a topic of discussion among fans as WWE has incorporated her name in Punk’s ongoing storyline with Drew McIntyre. NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez most recently said that the former World Champion himself is also trying to convince AJ to make a return.

When asked about it during a recent interview with Ringside Collectibles at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, Punk said that he is not pushing AJ in any way. According to him if a discussion was to take place about Lee returning under a legends deal or even signing up for a new action figure, he would like to stay out of that conversation:

“I’m the wrong guy to ask those questions about. My stance—I know there’s a lot out there of that—but I certainly am not pushing her to do anything. I think she knows that there’s options. I think she sees how happy I am and how things are different.

But if the right situation presented itself, it would have to be a discussion between her and certain people. I don’t necessarily want to be in the middle of that; just because it could get kind of weird. Selfishly, yes, I would love to make out with my wife on television again.”

While fans are hoping to see AJ Lee return to the ring as an active competitor, the chances of that are slim considering all the other projects the former wrestling star is involved in.

Though you can never say never in wrestling and the ongoing intense personal rivalry between Punk and McIntyre seems to be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the former champion on WWE TV.

Apart from this, CM Punk also reflected on the Straight Edge Society faction and commented on potentially leading a new group with NXT stars. You can check out his full interview below:

Blair Davenport & Chase U’s Riley Osborne Get Married

Thomas Lowson
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SmackDown Superstar Blair Davenport and Chase U’s Riley Osborne have tied the knot after two years of dating, the couple confirmed this week. On Instagram, Davenport shared some photos from the couple’s special day. Several names from the world of wrestling took to the comments to share their excitement about the news.

image 8

Davenport and Osborne began dating in 2022 and in August, Davenport would comment on an Instagram post of her future husband, saying she’d “Met the love of my life.” Davenport announced on her Instagram page in December 2023 that she and Osborne were engaged.

The wedding of Osborne and Davenport comes during a landmark week for Riley’s allies in Chase U. At the ongoing San Diego Comic-Con, fans have caught their first glimpse of Chase U action figures from Mattel. The three figures include faction leader Andre Chase as well as Thea Hail.

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Wrestling Couples

Love has certainly been in the air in 2024, with several wrestling couples taking massive leaps in their respective relationships. In May, AEW’s Ruby Soho and Angelo Parker tied the knot. Soho is currently out of action after sharing at an AEW event that she is pregnant. The following month, WWE and AEW collided as Rhea Ripley and Buddy Matthews in a black wedding. This month, Angelo Dawkins married his wife Grace in a ceremony officiated by none other than Montez Ford.

We here at SE Scoops would like to offer our congratulations to the happy couple.

2 Former WWE Stars Debuting for AEW on 7/27 Collison

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE Superstars Mason Madden and Mansoor will make their All-Elite debut on tonight’s AEW Collision to face FTR. The news was shared on Twitter by AEW President Tony Khan.

The AEW debut of Madden and Mansoor, collectively known as the MxM Collection, comes after the pair debuted for Ring of Honor at Death Before Dishonor 2024. At ROH’s latest pay-per-view, MxM defeated the Spanish Announce Project (Serpentico and Angelico) on the kick-off show.

Earlier this month, the pair’s arrival was teased during an episode of ROH Wrestling. Madden was described as the “mahogany hunk” and the “height of fashion.” Meanwhile, Mansoor was deemed the “sultan of suave” and “the man who will make you sore.” During their arrival at Death Before Dishonor, Mansoor was also called the ‘Iron Chiq.’

AEW Collision – 7/27/2024

Tonight’s AEW Collision will take place at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as part of a multi-week deal to host AEW events at the venue. Here is what has been confirmed for tonight’s AEW Collision:

  • FTR Vs. MxM (Mason Madden & Mansoor)
  • Orange Cassidy Vs. Johnny TV
  • The Beast Mortos Vs. Hologram

Immediately after AEW Collision, AEW will host its eleventh Battle of the Belts show. Matches announced include

  • ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) Vs. Taya Valkyrie (AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminatior Match)
  • The Undisputed Kingdom (Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett) vs. Dustin Rhodes and The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich and Ross Von Erich) (ROH World Six-Man Tag-Team Championship)
  • Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo (CMLL Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match)

Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from tonight’s episode of AEW Collision as well as AEW Battle of the Belts XI.

The Bloodline Become #1 Contenders After Winning Tag Team Gauntlet On SmackDown

Joey Galizia
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The next challengers for the WWE tag team titles have been determined.

Tonight’s WWE SmackDown included a massive tag team gauntlet, a matchup that featured Apollo Crews & Baron Corbin, Legado del Fantasma, The Street Profits, Pretty Deadly, The OC, and The Bloodline. Whoever emerged victorious would earn a shot at DIY (Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) at a future date, perhaps even at SummerSlam on August 3rd.

The action began with Corbin & Crews scoring a victory over Legado De Fantasma. Unfortunately, the unlikely duo’s run didn’t last long as The Street Profits would knock them off, with the former tag champs then running through Pretty Deadly and The OC. However, The Bloodline, represented by Tama Tonga and the Samoan Werewolf Jacob Fatu, was the final team in the gauntlet and put on a dominant display on their way to victory. Fatu scored the win after hitting a pop-up Samoan drop, followed by his signature top rope moonsault.

Fatu has quickly risen as one of the WWE’s biggest threats ever since he debuted on the June 21st episode of SmackDown. He led The Bloodline to victory over Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, and Kevin Owens at Money In The Bank, and now has a change to capture his first gold since signing with the company earlier this year.

WWE later confirmed The Bloodline will get their opportunity at the tag team on the August 2nd SmackDown.

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WWE released this video of the champions reacting to the news that The Bloodline will be their opponents next week.

Meanwhile, The Bloodline’s new leader, Solo Sikoa, has his own chance for glory when he challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam next weekend.

Cody Rhodes Gifted His Father’s Robe At WWE Live Event in Tokyo

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes’ connection to his father is no secret, and the Undisputed WWE Champion was given a heartwarming gift at a recent event in Japan. On WWE’s second night of their ongoing tour, their first in Japan since 2019, Rhodes defeated AJ Styles in the show’s main event. Not only did Cody get the win, but he was gifted a robe and hat worn by his legendary father Dusty.

The robe had previously been on display at the ‘Super Inoki Exhibition‘ a public exhibition celebrating the life and career of Antonio Inoki. Dusty and Inoki met NJPW Toukon Series 1979 in a match for the NWF Heavyweight Championship that Inoki retained by disqualification.

This robe has great sentimental value to Cody, whose relationship with his father has proven to be pivotal to his WWE run. It was Cody’s desire to win a WWE World Championship (an accolade his father got close to but never achieved) that resulted in Rhodes returning to WWE at WrestleMania 38.

Cody’s ‘story’ would finish with his victory over Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40. Following his victory, Rhodes received a different, but equally sentimental gift: the watch his father had sold to help pay for Rhodes to take acting lessons.

Though Cody’s story may have finished, his late father remains a driving force in his role as WWE’s leading man. Last month, Rhodes celebrated his father after an episode of SmackDown by holding the WWWF Championship in MSG, the same title that Dusty nearly won in the very same arena.

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Rhodes will be part of tomorrow’s live event, also in Tokyo, where he will defend against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Shinsuke Nakamura. With a title match set for SummerSlam against Solo Sikoa, the American Nightmare continues to keep the spirit of his father alive as WWE’s very top Superstar.

Related: More from WWE in Japan, Meiko Satomura Returns to Action

WWE WrestleMania London: Everything We Know Right Now

Jake Skudder
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WWE WrestleMania might soon grace the iconic city of London. Recent discussions between Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque, have sparked excitement and anticipation among wrestling fans.

Here’s a comprehensive look at everything we know about the potential for WrestleMania to be held in London.

WWE WrestleMania London: Sadiq Khan’s Ambitious Vision

Mayor Sadiq Khan has been vocal about his ambition to make London the “sporting capital of the world.” This vision includes hosting a variety of major international sporting events, from the Super Bowl to the Olympics, and now, WWE’s WrestleMania.

Khan’s commitment to this vision was evident in his recent meeting with Triple H, where they discussed the logistics and possibilities of bringing WWE’s flagship event to London.

In an interview with the PA news agency, Khan expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’m really excited to have begun conversations about bringing international WrestleMania to London. I know there are many fans in London and across the UK and Europe who are desperate to see WrestleMania live.”

WWE’s Global Expansion

WrestleMania has of course traditionally been held in North America, with 40 of the iconic shows having taken place across the United States and two in Canada.

However, WWE has been expanding its global footprint, hosting premium live events in various countries in recent years.

Recent events have taken place in Cardiff, Glasgow, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, and France. This trend indicates WWE’s willingness to explore international venues for its marquee events, making London a plausible candidate for a future WrestleMania.

Read More – John Cena Stands By The Idea of London Hosting WrestleMania

WrestleMania’s Economic Impact

Hosting WrestleMania could bring significant economic benefits to London. Past events have demonstrated substantial economic impact for host cities.

For example, the Royal Rumble in St. Petersburg, Florida, generated over $47 million in economic impact, including $28 million in direct spending and nearly $3 million in taxes. Local businesses saw increases in revenue ranging from 10% to 700% compared to a typical day.

Similarly, the Clash at the Castle event in Cardiff brought over £21 million to the Welsh economy.

Given WrestleMania’s status as WWE’s largest event, it could potentially bring even greater economic benefits to London, attracting fans from across the globe and boosting local businesses.

Challenges and Considerations

While the prospects are exciting, there are challenges to consider. WWE events are typically scheduled years in advance, and the earliest available date for a London WrestleMania might be as late as 2026.

Additionally, hosting such a large-scale event requires significant financial investment, which could be a point of contention given the current economic climate.

However, the potential economic returns and the boost to London’s global profile might justify the expenditure.

Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor 2024 Live Stream: How to Watch

Jake Skudder
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Tony Khan’s Ring of Honor will be hosting Death Before Dishonor this weekend, but how can you watch the PPV on streaming?

How to Watch ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024 Live Stream

U.S. Live Stream

In the United States, ROH premium events, including Death Before Dishonor 2024, are streamed exclusively on HonorClub.

You can access the live stream by subscribing to HonorClub at WatchROH.com for $9.99 per month.

This subscription not only gives you access to live events but also a vast library of past ROH events, including the weekly Ring of Honor Wrestling series and select shows from previous years.

International Streams

For fans outside the U.S., HonorClub is also available through various platforms such as smart TVs, Roku, and Apple TV. However, availability might vary by region.

Read More: Ex-ROH Owner Cary Silkin: Tony Khan Does Not Treat The Promotion Well

ROH Death Before Dishonor 2024 Card

The event promises an electrifying lineup featuring top talent from ROH, AEW, and Japan’s Stardom. Here are some of the highlight matches:

  • Mark Briscoe (c) vs. Roderick Strong – ROH World Championship Match
  • Athena (c) vs. Queen Aminata – ROH Women’s World Championship Match
  • Wheeler Yuta (c) vs. Lee Moriarty – ROH Pure Championship Match
  • Billie Starkz (c) vs. Red Velvet – ROH Women’s World Television Championship Match
  • Atlantis Jr. (c) vs. Lio Rush vs. Shane Taylor vs. Johnny TV vs. Kyle Fletcher – ROH World Television Championship Match
  • Diamanté vs. Leyla Hirsch – Texas Deathmatch
  • Dustin Rhodes & The Von Erichs vs. The Dark Order

WWE SmackDown Preview (7/26): Tag Team Gauntlet

Michael Reichlin
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WWE SmackDown returns to FOX tonight at 8/7c. It’s a rare taped episode, filmed after last week’s show from Ohama, Nebraska at the CHI Health Center.

(Check out what happened after last week’s SmackDown tapings with Cody Rhodes.)

Why is SmackDown taped this week?

WWE taped tonight’s SmackDown due to the ongoing live events tour of Japan. The ‘SuperShow Summer Tour’ visits Tokyo’sRy?goku Kokugikan on Friday and Saturday night.

SmackDown Matches & Segments

Here are the matches and segments we’ll see tonight:

  • Tag Team Gauntlet Match: The winners will become the #1 contenders to DIY’s World Tag Team Championships. Participating teams include: The Street Profits, Legado Del Fantasma, The Bloodline, The OC , Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews and Pretty Deadly.
  • Tag Team Match: Tiffany Stratton & Nia Jax vs. Bayley & Michin
  • Singles Match: LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar

Plus, A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory & Grayson Waller) will host a segment with undefeated boxing champion Terrence Crawford. Crawford Crawford got physically involved on SmackDown last week by handing Cody Rhodes a chair, which he later used on Theory & Waller. No spoilers, but .. “could things get physical again?”

What happened last week?

Catch up on the Top 10 Moments from last week’s WWE SmackDown:

Trevor Lee Talks About Wanting to Wrestle for AEW

Bishal Roy
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Trevor Lee (formerly Cameron Grimes) has expressed his interest in every promotion after being released from WWE in April. However, he has specifically mentioned AEW as his possible future destination.

During K&S WrestleFest virtual signing, Lee discussed his exit from WWE. The former NXT North American Champion stated that it was all about the timing. While he believes it was unfortunate, he knows that pro wrestling never ceases. He highlighted the fact that wrestling shows take place all around the year. The former Cameron Grimes made it clear that he will be back on TV shortly.

A handful of WWE wrestlers have jumped ship to AEW in the past. There has been speculation that Lee might follow suit. He recognized how AEW has made an impact on the wrestling world since its inception in 2019 and wouldn’t rule out signing with the promotion. He said:

“I have interest in absolutely every company. But, I do have interest in AEW. Why wouldn’t I? It’s doing what they’re supposed to do and it’s shocking the culture and it’s stirring up a firestorm that is the new era of wrestling so, of course.”

What’s next for Trevor Lee?

Lee is scheduled to appear in Black Label Pro promotion for the first time. He will be making his debut for the Indiana-based promotion at BLP Old Habits Die Screaming at the Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago, Illinois on July 26. This will mark his first appearance for any promotion since his release from WWE.

Meanwhile, Elevation Pro Wrestling has also announced that Lee will appear at the promotion’s Homecoming event on July 27. 

John Cena Stands By The Idea of London Hosting WrestleMania

Bishal Roy
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0

WWE legend John Cena has yet again endorsed the idea of WrestleMania taking place in London.

WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque and WWE President Nick Khan recently met London Mayor Sadiq Khan at London’s City Hall. This has increased the chances of WrestleMania possibly taking place in the UK in the future. Sadiq Khan, who won re-election earlier this year, confirmed the meeting. He shared his excitement that WrestleMania could be headed to London.

Now John Cena took to his X account and weighed-in on the matter. He has backed the idea of WrestleMania coming to London and believes the city deserves to host ‘The Shows of Shows.’ The 16-time World Champion is retiring in 2025 and he said won’t be able to compete when WrestleMania goes London. However, he assured that he will attend the show as a fan. He wrote:

The city of London, and all of the UK has supported WWE thru thick and thin. I try to minimize using the word “deserve” so I will use more appropriate terms.

I’ve said it before and stand by it. In my mind London has EARNED a chance to host WrestleMania. I won’t get to compete when it happens but I will BE THERE as a fan for sure!

After waiting for several years, the UK crowd could be getting what they want. They have been vocal about hosting WrestleMania for years and the interest peaked especially after WWE Money in the Bank 2023. The London crowd were surprised when John Cena made an appearance and floated the idea of WrestleMania coming to London.

The Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has also endorsed WrestleMania in the UK. Mayor Khan previously said that the city is ready to host ‘The Show of Shows. This led to Triple H wanting to meet Khan. Hunter later said that everything was on the table for future host cities of WrestleMania.

Meanwhile, John Cena announced his farewell tour before hanging up his boots. He didn’t mention when and where he would compete in his final match. However, he made it clear that next year will be his last time competing in the WWE PLEs.

Raj Dhesi (f.k.a Jinder Mahal) Doesn’t Believe ‘WWE Dropped The Ball On Him’

Bishal Roy
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Raj Dhesi (formerly Jinder Mahal in WWE) doesn’t agree with the critics who believe that WWE missed an opportunity with the wrestler.

In a TikTok video clip, the former WWE Champion reacted to a fan who said WWE “dropped the ball” on him. He explained that during his 12-year career with WWE, he was able to make the most of the opportunities. He also got to travel the world, build valuable relationships, become financially independent, and have multiple in-ring achievements.

During his time in the company, he held the WWE Championship once and won the United States Championship at WrestleMania. ‘The Modern Day Maharaja’ said that he had a great time in WWE and thanked his fans for their support. Now, he is eyeing to make a mark on the indie circuit. He said:

“So I see this comment a lot and I wanna kinda share my opinion on it. ‘WWE dropped the ball on me’ – I would say that’s not true.

“Had a very long career, 12 years in WWE. WWE Champion, won the United States Championship at WrestleMania, made a great living, really set myself up for the future, for the rest of my life. Given me a sense of financial independence where now I can just do whatever I wanna do. Freedom, flexibility, got to travel the world, build amazing relationships, a lot of good memories. And it’s gonna continue now on the independents, just doing things my way.

So WWE did not drop the ball, I had a great career, a great time, and, yeah, thank you for all the fans tuning in for all these years.”

Dhesi was released from WWE back in April and he candidly spoke about his release. The former United States Champion was one of seven former WWE wrestlers who became free agents recently. After his non-compete clause expired, Dhesi immediately made an impact on the indie scene by making a surprise appearance in GCW.

What’s next for Raj Dhesi?

Dhesi will make his in-ring debut for GCW next month. The promotion announced that Dhesi will face Effy in a singles match on August 2 at GCW Now and Forever event in Cleveland, Ohio. “The Maharaja” has also revealed the tour dates for his ‘Unhindered Tour.’ He is scheduled to make a handful of appearances in several locations across North America. Check out the schedule below.

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