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WWE 2K24: Terry Funk Entrance Video From First DLC Pack Out 5/15

Aaron Varble
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We have a first look at the DLC character of hardcore legend Terry Funk in WWE 2K24. The all-time great is part of the the first DLC pack for the game, the ECW Punk Pack that will be available Wednesday, May 15. 

WWE and 2K have been giving first looks at the ECW Punk Pack characters, including The Sandman and The Dudley Boyz. Today, it’s a screenshot of the great Terry Funk. CM Punk is the final remaining member of the pack.

Terry Funk’s contributions to the pro wrestling business are vast, and he picked up championships all over the globe in over 50 years in the pro wrestling business. Sadly, he passed away on August 23, 2023. While the specific cause of his death has not been disclosed, it is known that he was dealing with health problems and was living in a nursing home at the time. He will forever be remembered as a legend and a trailblazer, one who influenced generations after him.

Future WWE 2K24 DLC Packs:

After the ECW Punk Pack release on 5/15, here’s the release schedule for the remaining WWE 2K24 DLC packs:

  • June 26: DLC Pack #2 (“Post Malone & Friends Pack”)
    • Includes Post Malone, Sensational Sherri, Mosh, Thrasher, Honky Tonk Man, Jimmy Hart Manager, MyFACTION Superstar Cards
  • July 24: DLC Pack #3 (“Pat McAfee Show Pack”)
    • Features Pat McAfee, Ty Schmit, Boston Connor, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, additional MyFACTION Superstar Cards
  • September 20: DLC Pack #4 (“Global Superstars Pack”)
    • Includes Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, Michelle McCool, Carlito, Kairi Sane, Lyra Valkyria, Dragon Lee, MyFACTION Superstar Cards
  • November 13: DLC Pack #5 (“WCW Pack”)
    • Features Diamond Dallas Page, Iron Sheik, Mr. Perfect, Great Muta, Lex Luger, MyFACTION Superstar Cards

WWE 2K24 Release & Reception

WWE 2K24 dropped on March 8, 2024, with Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley leading the promotional charge as the game’s cover Superstars. Cody was featured on the standard edition of the game. Ripley and Belair were on the special edition, making history as the first females to share the cover in the process. The special 40 Years of WrestleMania cover of the game saw an alteration after Brock Lesnar was scrubbed from the game.

The game is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics have responded positively to the game. They highlight its improvements and refinements from previous versions.

IGN and GameSpot each gave the game a score of 8 out of 10. Metacritic has given it a score of 81%. Users have also shared their opinions, rating it 3.7 based on 316 reviews. In our exclusive review, we gave WWE 2K24 a score of 8.5 out of 10:

Tony Khan On How AEW Interviews Differ From WWE

Dominic DeAngelo
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Tony Khan continues to embrace the “challenger brand” identity of AEW and think that’s conveyed in his roster interviews.

The AEW President spoke with Rich Ucchino on Cincy 360, and Khan continued to praise his company for exciting matches, but also the ability for his stars to speak behind the microphone. Khan also made reference that unlike WWE, their promos can lead towards organic cadence.

“In AEW, I think people really feel a connection with the wrestlers. We don’t script the interviews here. People go out, they’re talking about, maybe they got bullet points and key pieces of information they’re trying to get out, but it feels like you’re hearing a real person talk, which isn’t always the way it feels with some of the competition’s interviews. I think that’s one major difference.

Khan goes on to state that while the AEW athleticism is top-tier, he puts over the personalities of the roster too, something that he believes is conveyed through their unscripted promos.

“I think our biggest strength is the quality of athletes and the charisma of our biggest stars. Some of the biggest names in wrestling are in AEW, and there’s a reason why these big free agents want to come here to AEW. It’s because this is where the best wrestle.”

Khan is hoping that charisma comes out at AEW Double Or Nothing when Team AEW aims to battle The Elite in an Anarchy In Arena match in Las Vegas. On Wednesday’s Dynamite, Eddie Kingston, FTR and Bryan Danielson stepped up to challenge The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry.

Please h/t to WrestleZone for the transcription.

Randy Orton Praises Creative Changes In Paul Levesque Era Of WWE

Dominic DeAngelo
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Randy Orton enjoys the consistency of the new WWE product since Triple H has fully taken over of the company’s creative, but thanks two other employees for helping with that direction.

Speaking with “Adam’s Apple,” ‘The Viper’ gave his thoughts on the fresh, new and steady direction that Paul Levesque has implemented under his watchful eye.

“With Nick Khan, HHH, and Bruce Prichard, so many things have changed from a creative standpoint. They’re thinking months and months in advance. Before, we were flying by the seat of our pants. Creative was changed mins before we went live each week. I don’t mean sometimes. I mean, each week.”

Orton said that there’d be days where it would be 5:00 PM on the east coast and changes were still be made to the show that was airing in just a few hours. That aspect created for some very stressful moments. Under the Triple H regime, there’s more time laid ahead for talent to implement their own creativity.

“So just purely from a creative standpoint, you’re able to let it marinate and think about, okay, how am I gonna do this? Or how can I make this better? Or maybe there are tweaks, but you don’t do it ten minutes before you go live.”

Randy Orton has clearly been enjoying his time back in WWE has he got a gigantic reaction while he and Kevin Owens opened WWE Backlash in France and although the two lost, Orton remains in a top babyface role in WWE SmackDown.

Please h/t the transcription to WrestlingNews.co

UFC’s Derrick Lewis Says He’s “In Talks” with WWE, Wants To Use Rikishi’s Finisher

Thomas Lowson
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Derrick Lewis, a fighter for the UFC could become the next athlete to jump from the Octagon to the Squared Circle and become a WWE Superstar. 

The 39-year-old Lewis, dubbed the ‘Black Beast’ boasts a 27-12 win/loss record in the Octagon, with one fight going to a no contest. Speaking at a recent Fight Night press conference ahead of this Sunday’s contest with Rodrigo Nascimento, the UFC star was asked about a possible collaboration with WWE given that both companies fall under the TKO banner. 

“Yeah, we are actually in talks right now and we’ve been talking for a few months now. I was supposed to go down there in February to check everything out.”

When asked about a potential finishing move, Lewis saw himself using the Stinkface made famous by WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi. 

“It had to be something like Rikishi you know, you might see it man you know somehow I like taking off my shorts so we might see something like that.”

If Lewis does make the move, he’ll hardly be the first UFC fighter to join WWE. Matt Riddle transitioned from the Octagon to wrestling and was part of the WWE roster from 2018 to 2023. Ronda Rousey made headlines in 2018 by joining WWE after the end of her UFC career saw back-to-back losses in the cage. 

WWE & UFC Collaboration

WWE and UFC came together in September 2023 in the culmination of a $9.3 billion deal that saw WWE acquired by Endeavor. Since then, WWE Superstars have been seen at UFC events and fighter Michael Chandler used the February 19, 2024 Raw to call out Conor McGregor. 

The two companies will grow even closer this June when WWE NXT Battleground takes place at the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada. The show will see the crowning of the first WWE NXT Women’s North American Champion in a six-woman ladder match. 

SummerSlam 2024 Tickets Now On Sale, Logan Paul Promises A-List Celebrities

Aaron Varble
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WWE SummerSlam tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster. The company’s hot streak of running stadium shows continues, as the event takes place Saturday, August 3, 2024 from Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The venue opened in 1999 and has max capacity of approximately 67,000 people. 

If you’re looking to attend SummerSlam as a true VIP, On Location sells Priority Pass packages that premium seating, meeting WWE Superstars, photo opportunities and more. Here’s an early look at the seating chart for this year’s SummerSlam, with some of the most desirable seats going up for sale during this week’s 2-day pre-sale event.

SummerSlam 2024 seating chart

SummerSlam is one of WWE’s original ‘big 4’ events, along with WrestleMania, Survivor Series and the Royal Rumble. Cleveland’s own Logan Paul, the reigning WWE United States champion, says wrestling fans should expect a star-studded roster of celebrity guest appearances. 

“I wanna bring my brother Jake. I want MGK to be there, I want the Kelce brothers to be there. I want it to be one of the biggest events Cleveland has ever seen.”

He added, “Oh, Dave Chapelle will absolutely be there” and hopes to secure an opponent that he can “bring the house down” with. Who could that be?

SummerSlam Attendance

Last year’s SummerSlam was held at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, with an attendance of 51,477 and a gate of $8.5 million. Cleveland Browns Stadium has a listed capacity of 67,431 and WWE should have no problem packing fans into another huge NFL stadium.

WWE SummerSlam 2023 at Detroit’s Ford Field. (August 5, 2023)

WWE continues to break records, most recently with WrestleMania XL. The event generated gate receipts totaling $38.5 million from two nights at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. WWE also sold 44,569 tickets, generating $7.3 million, for the 2024 Royal Rumble at Tropicana Field. 

Check out our exclusive video from SummerSlam 2023 with Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar shaking hands after their match. 

WWE Backlash France 2024 Breaks All-Time Low Record For the Company

Thomas Lowson
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Backlash France will go down in the annals of WWE’s history books, though not entirely for all the right reasons. 

WWE’s first Premium Live Event in France took place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon and marked the first televised title defense of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare retained against AJ Styles, over two decades after the Phenomenal One faced (and defeated) Cody’s father Dusty. Jade Cargill & Bianca Belair captured the WWE Tag Team Championships at Backlash; the first title in WWE for the ex-AEW star. 

An Unfortunate Record

The crowd in the LDLC Arena was electric for Backlash France and the proceeding night’s SmackDown, prompting a noise level warning sent to Triple H. Unfortunately, that excitement wasn’t shared among fans watching at home, or at least those without access to the WWE Network or Peacock. As explained on Wrestling Observer Radio, the event saw the lowest amount of pay-per-view buys for any WWE event in history. Dave Meltzer added that there is a “considerable margin” between Backlash and the previous record-holder for the worst pay-per-view buys. 

While this isn’t fortunate for Backlash France, it’s no secret that pay-per-view buys have dwindled over the past decade. Thanks to the creation of the WWE Network and its subsequent acquisition by Peacock, audiences worldwide have ditched traditional viewing methods in favor of streaming platforms. 

Backlash France set an unfortunate record in WWE history. 

The time of the event will have also played into how many people watched the show. Because of the time difference between the U.S. and France, the show started at 1 pm for fans in the States. Nevertheless, the show proved to be a success in other ways, including the largest gate for any arena event in WWE history. WWE will host two more PLEs in Europe this year, a sign that the company is all in on international events. 

Daily Drop (5/9): WWE Receiving WrestleMania 43 Proposal, AEW Fight Forever Delivers New DLC Content

Aaron Varble
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It’s time for the Daily Drop on May 9, 2024. There is a lot to unpack from all over the pro wrestling world, as always. This is why SEScoops has this daily round-up and update for you.

First off, it WWE RAW isn’t leaving USA Network this year. The red brand will start on Netflix in 2025, but there was a big question about where RAW will go when their deal is up at the end of October. Now, USA Network has secured the remaining months of 2024 with a $25 million deal, per TKO’s latest financial call. Many are seeing that as a steal for the USA Network’s part, but it is a small amount compared to the 5 billion Netflix is giving WWE as part of their 10-year deal that starts in January.

WWE:

WrestleMania 43 Proposal: The Detroit Sports Commission is drafting a proposal to host WrestleMania 43 in their city. This would be a big deal historically, as it would be 40 years after WrestleMania 3, and 20 years following Detroit’s last WrestleMania event.

WWE Isn’t Using GoD: SEScoops exclusively reported that WWE has no plan to use Tama Tonga and Tanga Loa’s Guerillas of Destiny name. Loa debuted at WWE Backlash as part of the Bloodline stable, but the GoD moniker isn’t coming with him, despite the fact that he is aligned with Tonga once again.

TKO Financial Update: In the first quarter of 2024, TKO reported earnings of $629.7 million but incurred a net loss of $249.5 million, primarily due to a $335 million settlement of an antitrust lawsuit. The lawsuit claimed that UFC functioned as an illegal monopsony, suppressing fighter wages and hindering rival promotions, with over 1,200 individuals involved. Meanwhile, UFC generated $313 million in revenue, slightly less than WWE’s $316.7 million. UFC’s highlight for the quarter was the UFC 300 event, which brought in $16.5 million at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

CM Punk Blocked Music Change: During a recent interview, Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover stated that WWE wanted to do a sound-alike song for “Cut of Personality,” but Punk blocked it. He wanted to use his actual song, which is what ended up happening thanks to the Second City Savior putting his foot down.

AEW:

Ric Flair Reacts: After his Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza blowup, The Nature Boy released a public statement on the matter. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer said that things “just escalated.”

AEW Fight Forever Update: AEW released the Fight Forever Season Pass 4 bundle, capturing attention worldwide. This release includes not just Samoa Joe but also two new arenas: the Japanese Shrine Arena and the Fright Forever Arena. Players can also access new characters Adam Copeland and Jay White. AEW Fight Forever is available on all consoles and PC, and fan reactions to this update will reveal how much AEW has improved its game and how it compares to 2k.

Kenny Omega’s Announcement: Although he is far from being medically cleared, Omega appeared on AEW Dynamite from a hospital bed, where he booked an Anarchy in the Arena match for Double or Nothing on May 26.

Current AEW Double or Nothing 2024 Card:

  • Swerve Strickland (c), with Prince Nana, vs. Christian Cage with The Patriarchy for the AEW World Championship
  • Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale (c), for the TBS Championship
  • Will Ospreay Vs. Roderick Strong (c) for the International Championship
  • ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb
  • Anarchy in the Arena match: The Elite vs. Team AEW.

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

  • Saturday, May 25: King & Queen of the Ring (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)
  • Sunday, June 9: NXT Battleground (PLE)

Josh Alexander Cancels Upcoming Dates: Not Injured, But In ‘Constant Pain’

Bishal Roy
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TNA star Josh Alexander has decided to withdraw himself from independent promotion appearances as he is dealing with health concerns. 

‘The Walking Weapon’ recently took to X and announced that he is forced to pull out his indie dates for the remainder of May. The former 2-time TNA World Champion divulged that he has been dealing with personal health issues that leave him in “constant pain.” Alexander clarified that he is not injured but the time off is precautionary. He further added that he would deal with the issues and return as early as possible. He wrote: 

“Hey all, I’ve had to pull out of my Indy dates for the rest of the month. I’m not injured. It’s all precautionary. I’ve been dealing with some personal health issues that leave me in constant pain. I’ll deal with it & be back ASAP.”

Prestige Wrestling soon made an announcement on X about Josh Alexander pulling out from their ‘Alive or Just Breathing’ event which is set to take place on May 16 in Los Angeles. Alexander was scheduled to face former WWE star, Shelton Benjamin. However, the TNA star has been replaced by ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor. 

Ahead of the announcement, Alexander’s last match took place at TNA Under Siege on May 3. At the show, he joined forces with Eric Young and defeated Frankie Kazarian and Steve Maclin.

There had been speculation surrounding Alexander’s future with TNA Wrestling. However, he will remain with the promotion for at least another year as he recently signed a new deal in February. He also cleared the air regarding the contract situation. Read more below:

Ric Flair Admits He Was Wrong For Piesanos Blowup: “It just escalated..”

Aaron Varble
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Ric Flair’s blowup at Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza caused a chain reaction that resulted in video of the incident surfacing. Now, the Nature Boy is making no excuses for his behavior.

The 16x World Champion expressed regret about his recent outburst at a Gainesville pizza restaurant. He mentioned on “The MJ Morning Show on Q105” that he should have left the restaurant the moment things turned sour.

Flair admitted, “It just escalated, and I was wrong for getting mad, but I kind of felt like I was defending my position.” He also reconsidered his initial negative review of the restaurant, acknowledging that he had enjoyed his time and meal there before the conflict arose.

Despite his enjoyment, the incident escalated after Flair, who had taken pictures with customers and spent $1,500, was asked to leave following a disagreement with the kitchen manager about bathroom use. This disagreement led to a heated exchange, captured in a video that portrayed Flair negatively.

The incident, captured on video, showed Flair yelling at a Piesanos staffer following an alleged bathroom incident with the kitchen manager. A patron even suggested taking the argument outside.

The restaurant’s co-owner defended the decision to ask Flair to leave, supporting the staff’s actions. During the incident, Flair used strong language towards the manager and even challenged him to a physical altercation outside. He concluded the incident by offering a $1000 tip to a staff member.

TNA’s Joe Hendry Credits Success of Viral Theme Song to “A Series of Fortunate, Random Events”

Thomas Lowson
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0

TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry is grateful for the success of his hit song I Believe in Joe Hendry which came about after a series of fortunate events. 

Hendry’s track has proven popular with fans and non-fans alike and reached #1 on the iTunes charts in the UK, toppling Taylor Swift and others. Hendry’s track also reached #1 in other countries and did very well in the United States also.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Hendry shared how his viral song came about. 

“It is a series of fortunate, random events. People had always liked my song, my entrance song, I’ve had it for some time now. But I noticed on TikTok, people were making videos with it and it was getting literally millions of hits. And I thought ‘Maybe I should put this up on Spotify.’

“So I put it up on Spotify one evening, didn’t really think much of it. When it came out on the Monday, I woke up and it was #20 in the iTunes charts. I thought that’s pretty cool and I tweeted it out and then it just caught fire.”

Hendry went on to explain how his music helps get him in the right head space before his matches and spoke of wrestlers and musicians who use music to help combat performance-related anxiety. The former TNA Digital Media Champion from Edinburgh was also grateful for his brother who is often ‘roped in’ to help create his music videos. 

I Believe In Joe Hendry isn’t the Scottish wrestler’s only foray into music. Earlier this year, Hendry produced a song for Francis that featured the TNA theme song for AJ Styles. This song mocked Francis’ infamous, though life-saving botched dive in WWE. Hendry said that the former Top Dolla nullifies TNA Wrestling’s insurance whenever he goes sailing over the top rope.

Hendry’s success with his song can’t be denied, with non-wrestling fans growing increasingly aware of him. This will no doubt bode well for Hendry’s prospects in the ring, with TNA Hall of Famer Bully Ray even stating that TNA would be wise to consider a title run given Hendry’s popularity. 

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

Adam Copeland: ‘I Started Talks With AEW The Day After My WWE Contract Expired’

Thomas Lowson
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0

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland wasted no time in making moves towards joining the promotion after his WWE deal expired in September 2023. 

After over 25 years as Edge, Copeland debuted for AEW at the inaugural WrestleDream event and immediately entered a program with former friend Christian Cage. The pair’s lengthy feud culminated with Copeland dethroning Cage for the TNT gold in March 2024. 

On the Insight podcast, Copeland discussed the end of his WWE career and made clear he left on great terms. The Hall of Famer explained how quickly the turnaround was for him to go from WWE to its main rival. 

“It happened so quick. My contract with WWE was up on, I want to say September 21st. That’s when I started talking to Tony [Khan.] It was September 22nd. And WrestleDream was October 1st. So it all happened within a week.”

Copeland’s All-Elite arrival wasn’t the first time his name had been tied to AEW. In 2019, the Canadian came close to joining AEW, then a young upstart, before ultimately opting to stick with WWE. In the interview, Copeland was asked why he went for the younger promotion four years later. 

“It felt like I’d done everything that I was going to do with WWE. I’d worked [with] the people I wanted to work, 95 percent anyway. And it really just felt that they were on a direction and I was on a direction and they were kind of going separate ways.”

Adam Copeland wasted no time joining AEW. 

Ultimately, Copeland made his choice and opted for the road less traveled in 2023 and has clearly been having a blast in the company so far. Currently, the TNT Champion is feuding with the House of Black and has retained against Buddy Matthews and Brody King. 

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

Living Color Vocalist: ‘CM Punk Refused WWE’s Attempts to Rip-Off ‘Cult of Personality”

Thomas Lowson
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CM Punk was adamant that WWE used Cult of Personality in all its original glory, Living Color’s lead vocalist Corey Glover. 

After ‘leaving’ WWE at Money in the Bank 2011 as WWE Champion, Punk returned eight days later to Cult of Personality, a track he had previously used as a theme during his days in Ring of Honor. The song has gone on to be closely associated with Punk, who used the track in UFC, All Elite Wrestling, and in his most recent return to WWE. 

Sitting down with the Drinks With Johnny podcast, Glover discussed Punk’s use of the theme. He explained that upon his 2011 ‘return,’ WWE wanted to make a track similar to Cult of Personality, an idea the Best in the World was against. 

“They had their own music division of the WWE and they were gonna have somebody make up a song that sounded similar to Cult of Personality. But that was gonna be his entrance music. ‘No, I don’t want that. I want the real thing.’ He’s like one of the talent that actually got that in his contract that wherever he goes, that goes with him.”

CM Punk had no interest in WWE’s cover of his iconic theme.

The track is very fitting for Punk, who has developed a cult of personality of his own. It was this charisma that kept fans chanting his name during what would be a seven-and-a-half year absence from pro-wrestling. Nowadays, fans can hear the tune in all its glory in WWE as the Best in the World continues to be a hot commodity in pro wrestling. 

TKO Reports 2024 Q1 Revenue of $629.7 Million as WWE Outperforms UFC

Thomas Lowson
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The first quarter earnings of 2024 for TKO Group Holdings with WWE emerging as the higher-earning brand within the new company. 

In the 2024 Q1 earnings report, it was revealed that TKO made $629.7 in the quarter, but also suffered a net loss of $249.5 million. Much of this net loss comes from TKO settling an antitrust lawsuit against UFC. The plaintiffs alleged that UFC was an illegal monopsony that suppressed fighter wages and stifled rival promotions. The lawsuit represented more than 1,200 individuals and was settled for the sum of $335 million.

UFC’s revenue for the 2024 Q1 saw the MMA juggernaut earn $313 million, slightly behind WWE’s revenue of $316.7 million. During the time frame, UFC hosted its UFC 300 event, which drew a gate of $16.5 million to Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. 

Not to be outdone, WWE hosted WrestleMania 40, which proved to be the company’s highest evening event in history. The company also locked down a lucrative ten-year deal with Netflix to bring Raw to the streaming platform. 

Future Plans

With these reports in, TKO has increased its target for revenue for 2024 from $2.61 billion to $2.685 billion. In a statement, TKO CEO Ari Emanuel was optimistic about what’s to come. 

“These positive developments, along with the strength in our underlying businesses, give us more conviction than ever in the combination of UFC and WWE, and in TKO’s ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders.”

Clearly, WWE’s merger with UFC in September 2023 has proven to be a lucrative venture for both companies. With WWE embarking on a new era (one that has distanced itself from Vince McMahon,) it remains to be seen how the company’s future will be shaped as part of TKO. 

Endeavor President: ‘WWE Could Look To Host More Annual Events in Saudi Arabia’

Thomas Lowson
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could soon be hosting more events from WWE, according to Endeavor President Mark Shapiro. 

The decade-long deal between the two sides began in 2018 during Vince McMahon’s tenure running WWE. The deal currently sees WWE host two lucrative events a year in Saudi Arabia, often with the company’s biggest stars as well as part-time performers. 

When McMahon stepped down in January 2024, there had been speculation as to what this would mean for the often-controversial Saudi deal. While speaking on the TKO Q1 earnings call, Mark Shapiro, president of Endeavor, was quick to shut down the idea that Vince’s exit had changed things in terms of the agreement. 

“There was a lot of speculation with Vince being gone, ‘would that impact the relationship in a negative way? Would they be looking to get out of it?’ I would say that Nick Khan, in particular has developed, sustained, cultivated, and nurtured a very strong relationship in a handoff from Vince. They have a lot of trust and faith in each other.”

Shapiro added that WWE could explore the idea of hosting more than two events in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

“We have a strong and healthy relationship with the Kingdom, through WWE, and doing two annual events a year… Potentially, we could look to do more events, but nothing is planned beyond those two events at this time.”

Mark Shapiro believes WWE could host more than two events each year in Saudi Arabia. 

WrestleMania In Saudi Arabia? 

If WWE does plan to host more annual events in Saudi Arabia, then WrestleMania could be on the list. Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority hopes to bring WrestleMania to the country, as well as the Royal Rumble. They also have their sights set on UFC events that fall under the TKO banner. Nick Khan has however stated that currently, WrestleMania and other major events will stay in North America for the time being. 

WWE King and Queen of the Ring takes place later this month on May 25 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Super Dome.

Wrestlers & More Raise Over $28,000 For Popular Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda Promotion

Thomas Lowson
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Soft Ground Wrestling Uganda will benefit greatly from the money raised by WWE alum Mace and Mansoor, as well as others. 

SGW Uganda has become a hit online in recent months after notable names began sharing the promotion on social media. Both AEW’s Will Ospreay and TNA Wrestling’s Jordynne Grace donated to a GoFundMe fundraiser aimed at providing a standard wrestling ring as well as other operating needs. 

Now Mace and Mansoor have been able to raise more money for SGW Uganda. On Twitter, Mansoor revealed that through a live stream, they had raised over $28,000. This stream included some notable names in wrestling, including AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland, TNA X-Division Champion Mustafa Ali, Maven Huffman, YouTuber Matt McMuscles, and others. 

In a subsequent tweet, Mansoor explained that this money can be put towards six months of food, beds and mosquito nets, an extension on their lease and a storage unit for a wrestling ring. SGW Uganda has been using a ring made of mud so far, but that will hopefully change given the money raised. 

One thing SGW Uganda won’t have to put this money towards is a van that’ll allow the promotion to take their show on the road. In a follow-up tweet, Mansoor explained that his mother has donated enough to buy a van in memory of her father who gifted them a win when Mansoor’s sister was born. 

SGW Uganda isn’t just a wrestling promotion but is a school that trains over 180 students. With this money, SGW Uganda will be able to take huge steps to the future with fans excited to see what’s next. 

Kenny Omega Announces ‘Anarchy In The Arena’ Match For AEW Double or Nothing

Aaron Varble
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0

One of All Elite Wrestling’s most chaotic matches is returning later this month at AEW Double or Nothing: Anarchy in the Arena.

Former AEW World Champion Kenny Omega appeared on this week’s AEW Dynamite to address the violent attack he sustained last week at the hands (and feet) of The Elite. Omega, who is out indefinitely recovering from diverticulitis, checked in from a hospital bed to deliver an important announcement. The Elite will face justice for attacking him last week on Dynamite. At Double or Nothing, The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry will face FTR and two additional partners in the Anarchy match. Later in the show, they were revealed to be Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston. 

Anarchy in the Arena involves two teams battling in a no-rules falls-count-anywhere match. Often involving two warring factions, the unique stipulation combines elements of hardcore and cinematic matches and is dubbed ‘Stadium Stampede’ when held in larger stadium venues. We got a preview of Anarchy in the Arena when the two teams brawled at the conclusion of this week’s Dynamite:

Double or Nothing Coming Together

Anarchy in the Arena joins the growing card for the upcoming AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday, May 26 from Las Vegas.

Swerve Strickland puts the AEW World Championship on the line against Christian Cage, Mercedes Moné Makes her AEW in-ring debut and challenges Willow Nightingale for the TBS championship, Will Ospreay goes for gold against International Champion Roderick Strong and more.

Anarchy In The Arena: The Elite vs. FTR, Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston

Current match lineup for AEW Double or Nothing:

  • Swerve Strickland (c), with Prince Nana, vs. Christian Cage with The Patriarchy for the AEW World Championship
  • Mercedes Moné  vs. Willow Nightingale (c), for the TBS Championship
  • Will Ospreay  Vs. Roderick Strong (c) for the International Championship
  • ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb
  • Anarchy in the Arena match: The Elite vs. Team AEW.

Watch Kenny Omega’s address from AEW Dynamite 5/8/24:

Monday Night Raw To Stay On USA Network For Fourth Quarter of 2024

Tyriece Simon
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WWE is heading into new territory as they prepare to stream Monday Night Raw on Netflix in 2025. The $5 billion deal was made on January 23, with fans curious and skeptical about the brand moving exclusively to streaming. 

While the company plans to move to Monday Night Raw off TV, fans became aware that its deal with USA Network would end in September. WWE not having an agreement in place would’ve left the brand without a home until January 2025 to Netflix. However, TKO Group Holding has announced that they have reached a new deal, a $25 million deal with NBCUniversal, to keep Monday Night Raw on the USA Network for the rest of the year. 

TKO shared their 2024 first-quarter results today and revealed that Monday Night Raw would stay on the USA Network for the fourth quarter of 2024. The deal will also allow NBCU Universal to have Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown on the network later this year. 

It’s unclear if WWE may have considered other possible suitors to host Monday Night RAW later this year. However, this may be a win for fans as both brands will be on one network until Monday Night Raw moves to Netflix. It will also allow fans to slowly transition from cable to streaming to watch their favorite superstars on the Raw brand. 

More On WWE’s Move To Netflix Next Year

WWE’s decision to move to Netflix will be game-changing as they hope to bring the same weekly audience to the streaming service. CBS News’ William Lankford reported earlier this year that Netflix has over 200 million subscribers, with 13.1 million added by the end of 2023.  

Netflix’s decision to add the WWE flagship show will be interesting as it aims to compete with other streaming services, like Amazon Prime Videos, for live sports. While other platforms have a season or games of a sport, Netflix will benefit from having Monday Night Raw every week.  

WWE’s new deal with NBCUniversal has secured the future for the rest of the year. The company will have to figure out if they can get fans to watch their brand on streaming in 2025. However, the $25 million agreement has given them time to get their audience to follow Monday Night Raw’s transition to Netflix.

The Bloodline’s Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa Won’t Be Guerillas of Destiny in WWE

Aaron Varble
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Tanga Loa made his WWE debut at last weekend’s Backlash PLE from the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. He reunited with his brother, Tama Tonga, as part of the new and improved Bloodline. 

We’ve received questions from readers about whether or lot they’ll be using their old team name from New Japan Pro Wrestling, the Guerrillas of Destiny. SEScoops has confirmed with multiple sources that Tanga Loa and Tama Tonga will not carry over the GoD name into WWE.

Before joining WWE, Tanga and Tonga reigned in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as the Guerrillas of Destiny and held the IWGP Tag Team Championship an impressive seven times 

We may see the name referenced in passing, there are no plans for them to use the name regularly or as part of any merchandise. A search of the US Patent & Trademark Office database shows no current owners for the  ‘Guerrillas of Destiny’ trademark.

Guerrillas of Destiny Trademark Search

Since Roman Reigns lost the WWE Undisputed World Title to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL, WWE fans have witnessed a significant transformation in the Bloodline. Loa’s arrival could further reshape the landscape.

WWE Backlash signaled a significant shift for the Bloodline with the introduction of a new, powerful tag team to the WWE Universe, led by Solo Sikoa in Roman Reigns’ absence. Although Paul Heyman may be leery about things, he is still following along. 

Randy Orton Talks WWE Retirement, Auditioning For Acting Roes

Tyriece Simon
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WWE fans are enjoying the latest run Randy Orton is on after a potential career-ending injury. After more than a year out of action dealing with a back injury, he returned to WWE Survivor Series on November 25, 2023. Since then, he has been regularly featured on TV and competing with the best in the company. Although he has shared that he feels he’s entering his prime in his career, Orton is not opposed to taking the right opportunity in Hollywood. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd81IRoMpkI

In an interview with Adam’s Apple, Orton revealed that the United Talent Agency represents him and has done auditions. 

“…I’m with UTA, and I do turn in auditions. Do some self-tape here and there, but sometimes I’ll see these roles pop up a year or two years later that I don’t get, and I’ll see it and say, Man, I’m glad I didn’t get that role,” said Orton. 

He noted how difficult it could be to wrestle for WWE, commit to his acting career, and be involved with his family. He also doesn’t want to take a role that doesn’t do anything for himself. 

Randy Orton On When He Plans To Retire

Despite wanting to focus on his wrestling career, Orton has acknowledged that he may have a few years left as a competitor. In the interview, he spoke about dealing with injuries at 35 and how the company leadership under Vince McMahon could be grueling to a talent’s body. However, Orton notes that times have changed with the new regime, and he is allowed to take time off to heal.

“…It’s a great atmosphere to okay how can we make this guy last and the beauty of it is, I’m not even there yet. I feel so great after my surgery. I’m a full-time guy,” said Orton.

The former WWE Champion also shared that he doesn’t want a schedule like The Undertaker, where he may wrestle for significant events like WrestleMania. While he feels in great shape, the 44-year-old believes he may end his career in six years. 

“…I want to be on the road every week. I want to make all the TVs. I want to be on all the PLEs (Premium Live Events), and at 44, just turned 44, I would love to be able to go into my 50s. Maybe I wrestle until I’m 50 and call it, and that’s 30 years with the same company,” said Orton. 

While there may be questions about whether Orton’s body can maintain wrestling for another six years, he is currently in the best shape of his career. The changes in WWE have also made it possible for him to improve his health. For now, fans can enjoy Randy Orton on Smackdown as he hopes to show that he is just reaching his peak. 

AEW Fight Forever Free Update & Season Pass DLC

Tyriece Simon
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All Elite Wrestling Fight Forever is still going strong after its official release last year. The game was released on June 29, 2023, on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Steam. Although AEW Fight Forever was met with mixed reviews universally, the company is still adding more content to appease fans. 

On X/Twitter, AEW revealed that they have updated the game for free with new character skins and five music tracks. The company also announced that Stadium Stampede mode has been updated. 

“As a thank you to the fans for making #AEW the fastest growing wrestling promotion of all-time, the new Elite Beats and Stampede Expansion is available to #AEWFightForever players starting today,” wrote AEW.

The timing of the update is interesting as the company will celebrate the anniversary of its first pay-per-view, AEW Double or Nothing, on May 25. This year, the annual AEW event will occur on May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s unclear if the AEW Fight Forever will add more free content in connection to other milestone events for the company. However, AEW Fight Forever fans will appreciate the free additions to the game. 

AEW Fight Forever Season Pass 4 DLC

Along with adding a free update, AEW has also announced that their fourth Season Pass is available for download today for $19.99 on social media. The game has added Samoa Joe, Jay White, and Adam Copeland to be playable for fans who purchased it. AEW Fight Forever Season Pass 4 also adds two arenas, 30 move sets, and a new tournament mode. 

The new DLC is notable for wrestling fans as it will be the first game that Copeland will be involved in which isn’t WWE. The last game he was involved in was WWE 2K23 from the previous year. 

There are still wrestlers that have yet to appear in the game. It’s possible AEW Fight Forever could add more DLC or a free update later this year. However, their latest update could be enough for now to enjoy. 

Detroit Sports Commission Preparing Proposal To Host WrestleMania 43

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania brings a financial windfall to any market who gets to host the destination event. Cities across the world bid to host WWE’s biggest show of the year and another city is preparing a strong offer to host the event in 2027.

Today, on a Detroit local radio station, it was shared that the Detroit Sports Commission is in the process of preparing a proposal to host WrestleMania 43 at Ford Field. The stadium was built in 2002 and is the official home of the NFL Detroit Lions, with a capacity of 65,000. 

WrestleMania 41 was confirmed this last week to take place in Las Vegas on April 20 and 21 at Allegiant Stadium. As of this writing, WWE has not booked WrestleMania 42 or 43’s location. 

Detroit’s WrestleMania History 

This would make sense in the realm of history. WrestleMania 43 will mark the 40th anniversary of WrestleMania 3. The event was known as the “biggest main event in sports entertainment.” In the final match, WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan defended his title against André the Giant.

During the match’s finish, Hogan executed a legendary scoop slam on André that will live on forever. He followed this by hitting the ropes and delivering a leg drop. After retaining the WWE Championship, Hulkamania was running wild. 

Detroit also played host to WrestleMania 23, where Vince McMahon and Donald Trump stole the show with their battle of the billionaires.

Alalshikh: WWE-Saudi Arabia Deal Enhanced, We Want WrestleMania, Royal Rumble & UFC

Thomas Lowson
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WWE could soon be hosting the Royal Rumble or even WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia, if the nation’s big plans for TKO Group Holdings come to fruition. 

Since 2018, the company has hosted major shows from Saudi Arabia as part of the nation’s ‘Saudi 30’ vision to bring mainstream Western entertainment to the kingdom WWE is paid handsomely for these events In November 2022, a report revealed that the eight events in Saudi Arabia at the time had earned WWE more than the first 38 WrestleManias. 

Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Chairman, tells ESPN that an ‘enhancement’ of the current deal between WWE and Saudi Arabia will be revealed later this month. He stated their desire to host WrestleMania or the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, but did not specify if hosting either would be part of the forthcoming announcement. 

They also want to host major UFC pay-per-views. “We will do big things with the UFC and TKO,” Alalshikh said.

UFC 306 will take place this September in Las Vegas but will feature plenty of promotional material for the annual Riyadh Season of entertainment. Alalshikh explained that Saudi Arabia has plans for WWE and UFC, both of whom fall under TKO Group Holdings. 

WrestleMania in Saudi Arabia?

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

Will Saudi Arabia’s work with TKO bring WrestleMania to the nation? 

There’s also the question of how a Saudi Arabian WrestleMania will be received by fans. Initial events as part of this deal faced serious backlash as women were banned from competing. That has since changed though women wear outfits that cover their entire bodies in accordance with the nation’s standards. Ultimately, the money Saudi Arabia is willing to pay could bring WrestleMania to the nation, but this will be a decision that should not be made without careful consideration. 

WWE King and Queen of the Ring takes place later this month on May 25 from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Super Dome.

WWE 2K24 DLC: The Dudley Boyz Entrance Video & Ratings

Aaron Varble
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We’ve got a first look at the Dudley Boyz’ ring entrance in WWE 2K24. WWE Hall of Famers Bubba Ray and Devon Dudley will be available next Tuesday, May 14 as part of the game’s first DLC pack. The ‘ECW Punk Pack’ also includes The Sandman, Terry Funk and CM Punk.

Devon Dudley is rated 84 in the game, while Bubba Ray is an 85. 

Future DLC Packs

Here’s a look at future WWE 2K24 DLC packs:

  • June 26: DLC Pack #2 (“Post Malone & Friends Pack) includes Post Malone, Sensational Sherri, Mosh, Thrasher, Honky Tonk Man, and a Jimmy Hart Manager, along with MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • July 24: DLC Pack #3 (“Pat McAfee Show Pack) features Pat McAfee, Ty Schmit, Boston Connor, AJ Hawk, Darius Butler, and additional MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • September 20: DLC Pack #4 (“Global Superstars Pack”) includes Jade Cargill, Nia Jax, Michelle McCool, Carlito, Kairi Sane, Lyra Valkyria, Dragon Lee, and MyFACTION Superstar Cards.
  • November 13: DLC Pack #5 (“WCW Pack”) features Diamond Dallas Page, Iron Sheik, Mr. Perfect, Great Muta, Lex Luger, and MyFACTION Superstar Cards.

WWE 2K24 Reception

WWE 2K24 launched on March 8, 2024, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The game received positive reviews from critics, noted for its improvements and refinements over the previous version. 

It received scores of 8/10 from IGN and GameSpot, and an 81% on Metacritic. Users have rated it 3.7 based on 316 reviews.

We rated the game an 8.5/10 in our exclusive review:

Presale Passcode For WWE SummerSlam 2024 Tickets

Staff
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WWE fans looking to attend this year’s SummerSlam event from Cleveland, OH can now purchase tickets.

The WWE SummerSlam 2024 tickets pre-sale is now live at Ticketmaster. 

The Exclusive Passcode sent in to SEScoops to participate in the presale is WWEVIP.

Tickets officially go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, May 9.

WWE SummerSlam takes place Saturday, August 3, 2024 from Cleveland Browns Stadium.

Will Ospreay Calls Himself “Officially Grizzled” After 31st Birthday, Sabu Reassures He Has Many More Years

Dominic DeAngelo
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Will Ospreay may think he old in wrestling, but one ECW legend in Sabu believes the top AEW star is quite far from that. 

Ospreay only turned 31 on May 7, and youth is wasted on the young as Will thinks he’s well beyond his years going past 30. The top AEW star made note of his assumed state in the world of wrestling on social media.

“I’m 31 now. I’m officially grizzled,” Ospreay mentioned in a post on X. The Tweet got a kick out of pro wrestling legend Sabu, who reassured Will that he’s got a ways to go before he truly hits grizzled status.

“Officially grizzled? Lol. I wish I wasn’t officially grizzled. Lol you have many more years until you are grizzled.”

Will has basically just started his in-ring career with All Elite Wrestling, but Sabu has had already had some involvement with the promotion. He played a primary role in a program with Chris Jericho almost a year ago at AEW Double Or Nothing. Jericho took on Adam Cole in an unsanctioned match and Sabu played the enforcer of the fight. While he was dressed to the nines, he wasn’t afraid to get physical and did just that to take out Jericho.

Quite the dream birthday present for Will Ospreay would have to be a dream fight against Sabu. The legend actually has been getting himself back into ring shape to have one last match, stating that he’d love to involve AEW regular and best friend, RVD.

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