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Freddie Prinze Jr. Shares Good News & Bad News About Planned Wrestling Promotion

Thomas Lowson
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Former WWE writer Freddie Prinze Jr. has had some setbacks regarding plans for his wrestling promotion but believes a big break is just around the corner. 

Prinze, best known for roles in Scooby-Doo and I Know What You Did Last Summer, announced plans for a promotion in 2022. Prinze had high expectations at the time and planned for a two-hour show to launch within 18 months. Prinze has also sought advice from those who know a thing or two about launching promotions. 

Two years on from his announcement and Prinze’s show is yet to hit the air. The former WWE writer recently revealed that he’d been turned down and on his Wrestling With Freddie podcast, gave more information about what happened. 

“It was Warner Discovery. They were the first people that I went to… It’s such a roller coaster going up and down, but it’s never fast when you want it to be fast and it’s never slow when you want it to be slow. So yeah, so it was Warner Discovery that, and I’m not saying that to hate on them or anything like that.”

It’s hardly a surprise that Warner Discovery turned Prinze’s promotion down, as they are already the broadcast partner of All Elite Wrestling and hardly need a new show potentially splitting their viewership. Prinze added that he’s confident that another place he approached is going to say no to his promotion, which may be for the best as Prinze questioned whether they even liked wrestling. 

Undeterred by these setbacks, Prinze is confident a deal for his show is coming soon 

“There’s two places where I think one is a definite yes and it’s coming because they’ve made multiple calls asking all kinds of questions from creative to financial. When they start talking money, that’s when it’s getting serious.

“And the other place is like a dark horse, kind of a, not a long shot, like a weird choice, but it could be really cool. And if they say, I just want to yes, so whichever one says yes, I wanna put wrestling on TV and put more wrestlers on TV because that experience does nothing but help everybody, including the fans. So yeah, so that’s where we stand with that.”

Time will tell if Prinze gets his wrestling company off the ground, but he certainly is optimistic about his chances. Stay tuned for more updates about the actor’s plans to launch his own company. 

What John Cena Is Doing In France Ahead Of WWE Backlash

Bishal Roy
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WWE is heading to Lyon, France for this weekend’s Backlash 2024 Premium Live Event, and legendary wrestler John Cena could well be making an appearance at the show. A photo of Cena has emerged on social media which has created a buzz among the fans. Many believe that the former 16-time World Champion could be showing up at this Saturday’s Backlash Premium Live Event.

WWE fan @medy.storn on Instagram posted a photo with the man the company has dubbed the ‘Greatest Of All Time,’ who donned a snapback and a sweatshirt outside Copenhagen Coffee Lab. Cena is currently in Nice, France as he is busy filming ‘Heads of State,’ a movie project with Amazon Studios co-starring Idris Elba and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6a-egrIOJc

Will John Cena be at WWE Backlash France?

It’s worth noting that Copenhagen Coffee Lab has multiple outlets in France and going by the caption, the picture was clicked in Nice, France. Lyon is under 300 miles from Nice, so Cena might as well reach the destination within five hours. 

John Cena has a track record of making surprise appearances at the PLEs and the list includes WWE Money In The Bank 2023 that took place in London, England as well as last month’s WrestleMania 40. Thereby, it will be interesting to see if he makes his presence felt at the show.

The 47-year-old legend’s most recent in-ring appearance took place during impromptu match on WWE Raw the night after WrestleMania 40. Cena teamed up with R-Truth and The Miz to defeat the Judgment Day’s Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor and JD McDonagh.

WWE fans hoping to see John Cena wrestle again are in luck. During a special appearance on the Pat McAfee Show at WWE World that took place just hours before that match, Cena said he’s planning one final run with WWE in 2025. His acting schedule is very busy for the remainder of this year, but he is not retired from WWE just yet.

Catch WWE Backlash 2024 from LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, Lyon Metropolis, France at 1 p.m. ET. The countdown show will air live prior at noon ET. 

The Elite Doesn’t Need Kenny Omega Anymore After Brutal Assault On Dynamite

Bishal Roy
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Jack Perry has made it clear that The Elite no longer needs the services of Kenny Omega. A new era is upon us led by The Elite. They have made it clear that nobody is going to control AEW except for them. Yes, that includes Tony Khan, especially after what went down last week. On last night’s Dynamite, Kenny Omega finally made his return in his hometown, Winnipeg, Canada. However, things didn’t go well for ‘The Cleaner’ as he was brutally assaulted by The Elite members (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry). The assault continued backstage, as Omega was being stretchered away on the AEW Rampage that aired immediately following Dynamite.

The Elite sends Kenny Omega packing on AEW Rampage (5/1/2024)

In a Digital Exclusive, Jack Perry sent a stern message to the former AEW World Champion. 

‘The Scapegoat’ mocked the Canadian wrestler by saying that it might be the last time he did his old moves in his hometown. Perry said that ‘The Best Bout Machine’ was not the hero they needed and he’s only a “coward”. He concluded his message by saying that The Elite doesn’t need him anymore as they would change the world without him. He said:

“Kenny Omega, is this the best that you got? You know, you’re not as bad as you think you are. But I hope that you had fun, hitting all your old moves in your hometown for what’s probably the last time in your entire life. The thing that hurts me the most, Kenny, is that you were not the hero that we needed you to be. When it came down to it, you were a coward, like everybody else.

The truth is, The Elite doesn’t need you anymore. Neither does AEW. Because we are going to change the world without you. We all have to sacrifice, and you just made yours.”

Omega Not Medically Cleared

Fans might be thrilled to witness Kenny Omega back on television, but he’s unlikely to wrestle anytime soon. He has been on the sidelines for several months while recuperating from diverticulitis. While uncertainty looms over surgery, Omega is fighting to make a comeback to the ring. During his promo on Dynamite, ‘The Cleaner’ divulged that his bout with Diverticulitis took a serious turn and the doctor informed him that fortunately, he was hospitalized in time or else he was potentially 24 hours from death. 

Kenny Omega will seek revenge on The Elite when he’s healthy to return to AEW

Upon his return, Omega also had a face-off with his NJPW arch-nemesis Kazuchika Omega and told him to give him a few months before he could return. Well, AEW All In: London takes place on August 25 and these two could once again lock horns at the show – if he’s medically cleared by then.

AEW Double or Nothing 2024: World Title Match Set, Updated Card for 5/26

Thomas Lowson
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The card for AEW Double or Nothing is taking shape with several matches being confirmed during the May 1, episode of AEW Dynamite.

The show will be the sixth-annual Double of Nothing event and take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The will be a homecoming for the Double or Nothing event, as the first show (which also served as AEW’s first pay-per-view) also took place at the MGM Grand

Added Matches

During the May 1, episode of AEW Dynamite, World Champion Swerve Strickland spoke about his title reign and touched on the previous week’s attack on Tony Khan. This incurred the wrath of the Young Bucks who in addition to fining Strickland revealed his Double or Nothing challenger: Christian Cage. 

The two-time former TNT Champion was flanked by the Patriarchy. Despite a valiant effort by Strickland, the AEW World Champion was victim to a three-on-one attack by Cage, Killswitch, and Nick Wayne. The group’s leader held up the AEW World Championship in what could be a precursor to AEW Double or Nothing. 

The AEW Women’s World Title will also be on the line at Double or Nothing. On Dynamite, Serena Deeb defeated Mariah May after Toni Storm threw in the towel for her understudy. After the match, it was announced that Deeb will challenge Storm for the gold at the pay-per-view. 

AEW Double or Nothing 2024 card

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

  • Willow Nightingale (c) (with Stokely Hathaway) vs. Mercedes Moné (AEW TBS Championship)
  • Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay (AEW International Championship)
  • “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Luther and Mariah May) vs. Serena Deeb (AEW Women’s World Championship)
  • Swerve Strickland (c) (with Prince Nana) vs. Christian Cage (with Killswitch, “The Prodigy” Nick Wayne, and Mother Wayne) (AEW World Championship

SE Scoops will have full coverage of AEW Double or Nothing 2024. Stay tuned for more updates for what’ll be one of AEW’s biggest events of the year. 

Braun Strowman: ‘I Feel Bray Wyatt In My Life Every Single Day’

Thomas Lowson
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Bray Wyatt may no longer be with us but Braun Strowman still feels his friend’s presence even in the most mundane of moments. 

Wyatt, real name Windham Rotunda, passed away in August of 2023 at the tragically young age of 36. The three-time WWE World Champion had been pulled from programming earlier in the year due to health issues. 

Few WWE Superstars were closer to Wyatt than his Wyatt Family alum Braun Strowman. Speaking to Insight, Strowman reflected on still feeling Wyatt with him to this day.

“I see him all the time. It’s crazy, it really is crazy. I don’t know how spiritual anyone is, but I had a very deep connection with him. I see him, there’s things that remind me of him constantly. Every day there’s something and I can feel him. He’s still around.”

When asked about how the Wyatt Family changed his career, Strowman was quick to make clear that the group’s impact on him extended past the ring.

“It changed my entire life. I was this kid who was told I was never going to make it. Bullied. Fat kid growing up. And having a group of guys, three talented unbelievable human beings, take me under their wing and show me the ways through this crazy business. Words can’t really explain how grateful I am because I’m not where I am without those guys.”

Strowman recently returned to WWE programming following a lengthy absence due to neck fusion surgery. The Monster Among Men came to the aid of Jey Uso who’d been confronted by U.S. Champion Logan Paul.

Here are some recent articles about Braun Strowman now that the Monster Among Men is back on WWE TV:

Daily Drop (5/2): Kenny Omega’s AEW Return Turns Violent, Drew McIntyre Gets Personal With CM Punk Beef

Aaron Varble
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It’s time for the Daily Drop on Thursday, May 2. Last night saw AEW present a very interesting three-hour block of programming, and there is a lot to unpack.

Kenny Omega made his return to AEW television last night in Winnipeg, but things did not turn out too well for him. After receiving a rousing welcome in his home city, The Elite inserted themselves into the situation to make sure The Cleaner left on a stretcher. Then, the Young Bucks chased that stretcher down and tipped it over like the dastardly heels they are.

Now, let’s get into today’s edition of the Daily Drop!

AEW:

Nyla Fires Back: The Native Beast, Nyla Rose, released a t-shirt to fire back at The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission, who said she cannot wrestle cis gendered females as a transgender woman. That new merchandise will go to help Freedom Oklahoma, a 2SLGBTQ+ advocacy group.

Pressure on Swerve: The new AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland spoke on the pressure that is on him now. He also said that all of his endeavors outside pro wrestling helped prepare him to carry the heavy ball for Tony Khan.

The Bounty Hunter: Bryan Keith confirmed that he inked a multi-year deal with AEW. He will be around for years to come. Keith signed a deal with AEW in February 2024 after competing against Eddie Kingston on an episode of AEW Collision. Since then, he has faced wrestlers like Kyle O’Reilly, Malakai Black, Top Flight, and Private Party on AEW television.

Bryan Danielson Can’t Travel: Brie Garcia revealed on the Nikki and Brie Show that Danielson hurt his neck at AEW Dynasty. She made a point to say that it wasn’t too bad, and it is the kind of bump that comes with being in the ring. Despite Garcia trying to play it down on her podcast, it was announced on AEW Dynamite that Danielson didn’t make the Winnipeg Dynamite because he was not medically cleared to travel.

Taz Gets Bad News: Taz recently visited an orthopedic surgeon due to severe knee issues. After tests and X-rays, he learned that both his shoulders and knees need replacements. He has opted not to undergo surgery immediately and will instead continue with regenerative procedures to manage the pain.

WWE:

WrestleMania London: Triple H did not throw any kind of wet blanket on the idea of London hosting the show of shows. At this point, The Game stated that all locations are on the table.

Mandy Rose Gets Lips Dissolved: The former NXT Women’s Champion logged onto Instagram to update her fans about a cosmetic procedure that she’s having reversed, her lip filler. In the post, she revealed, “We did some lip dissolving today! I’ve always been a little afraid to do this ngl but it was definitely needed and really wasn’t that bad! Swollen at first but a couple hours later the swelling went down, and honestly with the numbing cream I barely even felt it.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C6ctEvSu3Ov

Drew Brings Up AJ: In a very bold move, Drew McIntyre said that he would steal AJ Mendez from CM Punk if he wasn’t already married. This was a big shot, and it will only add to the rivalry that Punk and McIntyre are destined to have once the Second City Savior returns to the ring. He later tweeted and deleted a quote retweet of that video saying: “It’s a general statement, not specific. Even when comes [sic] to Punk there’s some lines you don’t cross.”

WWE Speed For Women: Triple H confirmed that WWE is looking heavily into featuring women in upcoming versions of WWE Speed. No word on whether they will introduce a WWE Speed Women’s Title as a part of this.

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

  • Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

Was The Rock’s Return To WWE An Attempt To Break The Hollywood Star’s Losing Streak?

Thomas Lowson
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Was The Rock inspired to return to WWE after a series of public setbacks in the world of entertainment? Some within the promotion believe so. 

The Brahma Bull was appointed to TKO’s Board of Directors in January 2024 and quickly found himself taking center-stage on WWE programming. After a shaky start given the immense popularity of Cody Rhodes, The Rock found his place as a heel megalomaniac, creating the popular ‘Final Boss’ persona. 

On Wrestling Observer Radio, The Rock’s return was discussed in detail. Some in WWE believe The Rock’s comeback stemmed from more than just wanting to give back to wrestling. 

“There were people in WWE who felt like his return to WWE this year was an attempt to turn around a losing streak so to speak. Young Rock got canceled, some of his movies weren’t as successful as hoped for and WWE was an easy win.”

Young Rock’s cancellation came after three seasons of the show, with the final season averaging 1.4 million viewers, under half the 3 million that the show’s initial season brought in. This setback came just one year after Black Adam, a project the Hollywood A-Lister had been attached to for years, flopped at the box office.

What’s to Come for The Rock? 

The Rock has almost always succeeded in the world of professional wrestling, so it’s not a surprise that he has returned to the industry he once dominated. On the post-WrestleMania Raw, Rock vowed to return and confront Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. 

Here are some recent articles regarding The Rock as the Final Boss continues to make waves in WWE even during his current hiatus: 

Cody Rhodes Believes WWE Not Turning John Cena Heel Was The Right Call

Thomas Lowson
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WWE was right to avoid turning John Cena heel once he became a top star, according to reigning Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. 

Despite the occasional tease over the years, WWE never pulled the trigger on a John Cena heel turn after he became the top star of the promotion. On a recent edition of the Cheap Heat Productions podcast with Peter Rosenberg and Statguy Greg, Rhodes discussed a potential heel turn for himself and compared his position to that of ‘Big Match John.’

“I think minimally about [the prospect of turning heel.] And I could…you never say never. John [Cena]’s never happened, and I think rightfully so. I think what we got there, we look back at now and realize [it was right not to turn him.]”

Cena never turned heel as a top star, though WWE did once have plans for such a turn. WWE was so committed to the idea that the promotion had a new attire and theme created for the 16-time WWE World Champion before scrapping the idea. 

WWE has struggled in the 21st Century to create babyfaces with Cena and Roman Reigns being heavily booed by fans though WWE did eventually turn Reigns heel. With Rhodes being that rare commodity of a face accepted across all age ranges among fans, WWE would be wise to keep him as a face, but must find the balance between pushing their babyface WWE Champion without over pushing him in a move akin to ‘Super-Cena.’

Rhodes’ next challenge will be against somebody who’s had no problem turning heel in WWE: AJ Styles. The two will face off at WWE Backlash: France on Saturday, May 4. 

Maple Leaf Wrestling Trademark Filed With Ex-TNA President Scott D’Amore Attached

Thomas Lowson
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Scott D’Amore appears poised to return to the world of professional wrestling, mere months after his abrupt departure from TNA Wrestling. 

D’Amore was controversially fired as TNA President by parent company Anthem earlier this year, shortly after the highly-praised company relaunch at Hard to Kill 2024. Cutting D’Amore was met with heavy backlash as the Canadian had worked tirelessly for years to rebuild TNA’s standing in the wrestling world and had been an intrinsic part of the relaunch. The decision to replace D’Amore with Anthem’s own President Anthony Cicone also did not go over well with wrestling fans. 

D’Amore’s next chapter in the industry could see him play a huge role in his native Canada, according to a new trademark. The Maple Leaf Wrestling promotion has filed to trademark its name, with Michael E. Dockins making the filing. Dockins, the self-professed ‘Gimmick Attorney’ has covered several wrestling-related trademarks in recent years with Sting and FTR benefitting from his services.  

The address listed on the filing is the same address as the Border City Wrestling School, which is owned and operated by D’Amore. The filing allows for the use of the Maple Leaf Wrestling term on various pieces of merchandise as well as at wrestling events. At this time, D’Amore hasn’t publicly commented on the filing. 

The history of Maple Leaf Wrestling dates back to the 1970s when Frank Tunney operated the promotion out of Toronto. The promotion was initially known as the Queensbury Athletic Club, which started in back in 1930. 

The Maple Leaf Wrestling name was acquired by the WWF in 1984. In 1986, the name was used for broadcasts of WWF Superstars in Canada. The name was used by the WWF until 1995 with the final show being held at the Maple Leaf Gardens in September of that year. 

More from Scott D’Amore

Here are some recent articles regarding Scott D’Amore as the former TNA President seems poised to return to the world of wrestling in his native land: 

Drew McIntyre Brings Up AJ Lee As Feud With CM Punk Continues to Escalate

Thomas Lowson
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Drew McIntyre is holding nothing back in his feud with CM Punk, and now former WWE Superstar AJ Lee has been thrown into the mix. 

Punk and McIntyre have been at odds for some time with Drew taking credit for the injury Punk sustained in January that kept him from competing at WrestleMania. At the April 2024 event, Punk attacked McIntyre, giving Damian Priest the opening to cash in his Money in the Bank contract on Drew who’d won the World Heavyweight Championship mere minutes earlier. 

Now, McIntyre has brought up Punk’s wife AJ Lee in the latest escalation of their feud. On the Pat McAfee Show, McIntyre shared how much of a ‘troll’ he can be when it comes to the ‘Best in the World.’

“I’ll tear you apart on social media. I’ll step from behind the keyboard and I’ll tear you apart physically and if I wasn’t married I’d take your girl too. That’s the kind of troll I am.”

Punk and AJ married in 2014, mere months after Punk walked out of the promotion following that year’s Royal Rumble event. Punk received his termination papers from WWE on his wedding day, which was a sheer coincidence according to then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. After Punk’s return to WWE in November 2023, fans rallied behind the idea that AJ could return as well, though that hasn’t happened yet. 

Punk’s feud with McIntyre has been a highlight of WWE programming in recent weeks, but the two won’t collide just yet. In addition to Punk’s torn triceps, McIntyre is dealing with an elbow injury he has blamed on Punk. Nevertheless, the pair continue to appear on Raw with anticipation growing towards their eventual collision. 

More on Drew McIntyre

Here are some recent articles regarding Drew McIntyre as he continues to hold nothing back in his feud with CM Punk: 

Cody Rhodes Wants To Bring WWE TV to Italy, Tama Tonga Makes In-Ring Debut

Thomas Lowson
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Italy could soon be host to an episode of WWE TV if the reigning Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes has anything to say about it. 

Rhodes was part of a recent WWE live event in Bologna, Italy, and defended his title in the show’s main event against Shinsuke Nakamura. Speaking to the crowd after the match, Rhodes teased bringing an episode of Raw or SmackDown to the country. 

“You know we are sold out tonight, this is pretty good showing for Italy. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a RAW, to have a SmackDown?”

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C6cOk_6MNfl

WWE has hosted just one episode of TV in Italy throughout the company’s history, that being the April 16, 2007, episode of Monday Night Raw. The show in Milan is best remembered for the WWE debut of Santino Marella who captured the Intercontinental Championship from Umaga (albeit with a big assist from Bobby Lashley.)

Tama Tonga Makes In-Ring Debut

The WWE live event in Bologna, Italy also marked the in-ring debut of Tama Tonga, who debuted on TV as part of Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline very recently. In the third match of the night, Tonga and Sikoa defeated the team of LA Knight and Randy Orton. Despite getting the win, Tonga still fell victim to an RKO from the Viper after the match. 

Tonga joined WWE after a nearly-14 year tenure with New Japan Pro Wrestling. This run saw him become a seven-time tag-team champion and four-time NEVER Openweight Champion. It remains to be seen if Tonga will see the same success in WWE but debuting in a high-profile angle like The Bloodline and working with established top stars in his debut certainly bodes well for his future. 

The Elite Wreak Havoc On AEW Dynamite In Tony Khan’s Absence, Dispose Of Kenny Omega

Aaron Varble
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Tony Khan rode a wave of attention when he wore a neck brace during the NFL Draft. He had plenty of chances to plug Dynamite this week, as he promised that fans will find out what is next in the obvious power struggle going on within the company.

Tony Khan opened this week’s AEW Dynamite via satellite from Jacksonville, Florida. As he was explaining that he couldn’t be in Winnipeg due to The Elite’s actions last week, his feed got choppy and cut out. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson appeared in a production truck and made it clear they were in charge of the broadcast. They explained Khan can’t fire them due to a ‘founder’s clause’ in their AEW contracts. Since they’re the highest ranking officials at the show, they’re in charge and rolled a customized Dynamite opening video package featuring only The Elite.

Later in the show, Jack Perry explained his actions against Tony Khan last week. He said he did what was best for AEW in this “new era” as the Winnipeg arena filled with “CM Punk” chants.

The Cleaner Returns

Kenny Omega took the ring during the final segment of AEW Dynamite. After explaining his ordeal with diverticulitis, The Cleaner admitted that he couldn’t watch AEW television for the longest time. The former AEW World Champion stated that he’s not done wrestling, and he will do whatever it takes to return.

Then he brought up The Jackson Brothers, saying that they don’t call the shots by themselves in AEW, because the Best Bout Machine is still an EVP of the company. Kazuchika Okada made his way to the ring after that, as fans chanted “holy sh*t” before either of them said a word. 

Okada said, “I’m sorry Kenny, I’m the best bout machine now” right before Jack Perry jumped Omega from behind.

Although Omega mounted a bit of a comeback, Perry whacked him in the gut with a steel chair, sending him down to the mat. The Young Bucks soon came down to nail him with an EVP Trigger. FTR ran down for the save, chasing The Elite off, but the damage was done. AEW signed off Dynamite this week with Omega laying in the middle of the ring. When Rampage started immediately afterward, they led Omega off on a stretcher. After the initial assault, The Elite stopped EMTs from loading Omega onto an ambulance. They then tipped over the stretcher while Kenny was strapped in, adding insult to injury. 

Kenny Omega In-Ring Return Update

Dominic DeAngelo
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Kenny Omega will be at AEW Dynamite tonight as the show will hail from his backyard of Winnipeg, Manitoba after an extended absence. While fans will be excited for the return of ‘The Cleaner,’ they will have to wait a bit longer before he’s back in action. According to Fightful Select, Omega has a ways to go before he’s medically cleared after a major health scare with diverticulitis diagnosis. Omega revealed that he was pretty close to death after initially believing his ailment was a hernia. The report adds that Omega is strictly being brought back to help boost ticket sales for AEW Dynamite and add some additional star power to the show as they combat  the NBA and NHL playoffs.

AEW can take several routes with Omega’s role on the show as he was recently “fired” from his EVP position by his Elite brethern in The Young Bucks. Omega could have some added aggression as The Bucks are a week removed from rocking AEW President Tony Khan with a Meltzer Driver. 

Tony Khan hinted in build to the show that with him on the shelf, there should be a “power struggle” within All Elite Wrestling. Will that involve Omega? From how it seems AEW could get a new authority figure in play while Khan “recuperates” from his injury. Omega being in that new role would make sense from a storyline standpoint, but him also being on television consistently as he literally tries to get healthy may slow his progress down.

Nyla Rose Selling T-Shirt To Support 2SLGBTQ+ Advocacy

Aaron Varble
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The Oklahoma State Athletic Commission has issued a warning to AEW regarding Nyla Rose, a transgender woman, competing against cisgender women in the state. She has now responded by putting out her own merchandise to help people like her in that state.

Rose posted a new t-shirt showing an image of herself crouching in front of the word, “HER” in giant letters. To hammer home the message, the Native Beast included a caption to hype her new merch.

Ok well the cats outta the bag ya big noseys!!!! I was waiting for the official graphic but Yes this is a real shirt you can buy with your money to wear on your body AND ALL proceeds will go to @FreedomOkla and hopefully we can do some good for the people that live there

The former AEW Women’s World Champion picked a charity that hit close to home for her. Freedom Oklahoma works across the state and within the 39 sovereign tribal nations to create a future where all Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and other individuals whose sexuality, gender, or romantic identities fall outside the traditional heteronormative, binary framework (2SLGBTQ+), can live safely.

You may find more information about Freedom Oklahoma here.

The Nyla Rose Warning

During a January meeting, the OSAC decided to warn AEW that continuing such matchups with Nyla Rose against other cis gendered women could lead to punitive measures.

This issue arose after AEW’s event on December 20, the first one they hosted in Oklahoma, during which Rose defeated Alejandra Lion in a match broadcast on ROH television. Someone in the crowd didn’t see the entertainment value, and they lodged a complaint.

Jim Miller, OSAC Administrator, learned that Rose had participated in the match. He subsequently contacted AEW to inform them that this was against OSAC regulations.

Mike Bower, OSAC chairman, then pointed out that unlike applications for boxing, kickboxing, and MMA, wrestling applications in Oklahoma currently do not inquire about gender reassignment surgery. He suggested that the wrestling application forms should be updated to include this question.

Nyla Rose has already responded to the controversy, with a tongue-in-cheek post, she chastised whoever traveled to Oklahoma to entertain those pro wrestling fans.

Right now, the whole situation seems up in the air. AEW does not have any announced dates in Oklahoma. We will have to see how they cross that bridge when they come to it. 

Bryan Keith Confirms Multi-Year AEW Contract

Aaron Varble
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AEW has inked deals with several prominent names over the last few months, including “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith.  After making several appearances for Tony Khan’s company, Keith has confirmed he’s officially ‘All Elite’ and will be for years to come. In a recent interview with WhatCulture, Keith expressed his enthusiasm and readiness for his role with the major league promotion.

“I’m on top of the world dawg. I feel like everything I’ve done in my life has prepared me for being in AEW. I’m capitalizing on every opportunity I got and just having fun, you know, being myself and mixing with everything else that’s going on in AEW and meshing with that so well. I’m excited. I signed a deal with them for the next couple years so I’m excited to see what’s gonna happen.”

Keith finalized a deal with AEW in February 2024, following a match against Eddie Kingston on an episode of AEW Collision. Since then, he’s wrestled against wrestlers such as Kyle O’Reilly, Malakai Black, Top Flight, and Private Party on AEW television.

Bryan Keith Before AEW

Before joining AEW, The Bounty Hunter had a successful career with several accolades in professional wrestling. At Deadlock Pro-Wrestling, he won the DPW National Championship and currently holds it.

He made a tour around the indies, picking up top titles in F1RST Wrestling, Freelance Wrestling, and Loko Wrestling. In New Texas Pro Wrestling, he earned the New Texas Pro Championship.

Furthermore, Keith held titles in Pacific Coast Wrestling, where he is the current PCW ULTRA Light Heavyweight Champion. We will have to see how AEW handles the fact that he’s still carrying gold on the indies.

Keith also dominated Booker T’s Reality of Wrestling company for a bit. His accomplishments there include winning both the ROW Heavyweight and ROW Television Championship.

Many regarded The Bounty Hunter as one of the best indie wrestlers who was not on any mainstream platform. Now that he is with AEW, the sky is the limit. 

Swerve Strickland Came Prepared For The Pressure Of Being AEW World Champion

Aaron Varble
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Swerve Strickland won the AEW World Title at Dynasty last month to end Samoa Joe’s reign and usher in a new era for himself and the company. He admits it’s a lot of pressure to carry AEW on his back, but he was ready for the responsibilities. Speaking on AEW Close Up with Renee Paquette, he said representing change will bring some detractors. 

Strickland compared wearing the coveted AEW World Championship to, “fitting into a perfect shoe that was made for you.” He knows you can’t please everybody and there will always be resistance when changes and history are made. He sees some of the online negativity, but it doesn’t get him down. Instead, he uses it as motivation to keep going and showing the world this is Swerve’s House.

“For me to be at the top of that there’s a lot of pressure to be the first of anything, there’s a lot of pressure. I can already read in the comments and stuff, and I think they’re waiting to see how I respond to that. They wanna see me take that bait, but they don’t understand the professionalism and the mind state that I’m at, at this point. They wanna see the cracks form, they’re waiting for it. Coming off of Dynasty into Dynamite, it’s like, ‘Boom!’ right into the action., and I’m like, ‘Good, it’ll give you no room to speak..”

Swerve Strickland shows off his dangerous offense

All Just a Practice Run…

Swerve kept busy in the days leading up to his win at AEW Dynasty and did the media rounds to spread the word about the company he wants to lead. The day before the PPV, he threw out the first pitch before the Saint Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium. He had the AEW World Title with him for photo-ops, even though he had yet to win the gold. 

Swerve Strickland has many irons in the fire outside pro wrestling. He recently rocked the Rolling Loud Los Angeles stage with his music, and he also keeps up his Swerve City Podcast. Swerve explained how these personal endeavors prepared him to carry the torch for AEW.

“I feel like the last two or three years was preparation. It’s not like I was presented to do these things. It’s just something that I wanted to do. I’m inspired by Jericho and Fozzy, touring and still making it to TV, doing Talk is Jericho and doing all the shows, and all these guys who have these outlets. I was like, ‘man I wanna do that.'”

“This was all just a practice run, like oil in a machine, and now [points at AEW World Title] I am the machine. The machine is here because I’ve been doing this for a while with my small team, my small crew and I have to lead that. I’ve been leading these small crews in music and everywhere and it’s like now we’re gonna add this responsibility on top of that.”

The AEW World Title commands a great amount of time and attention. The schedule may be grueling, but Strickland has been putting himself to the test for years with his own hustle. Now he is the face of AEW, and more than prepared to take on the role of a lifetime.

Triple H On Possible UK WrestleMania: ‘Everything is On The Table For Where We Go’

Thomas Lowson
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WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque believes that everything is possible for WWE’s upcoming Premium Live Events, including a potential WrestleMania in the UK. 

Fans across the pond have for years hoped for a WrestleMania of their own, and those hopes grew after John Cena advocated for a WrestleMania in London during Money in the Bank 2023. More recently, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes said that the UK indeed deserves a WrestleMania to call its own. 

During a recent appearance on X Spaces alongside Rhodes, Levesque was asked about a possible WrestleMania in London. The Game said that this is a possibility and encouraged other cities to reach out to WWE. 

“The thing about the global nature of what we do, where we are, what we’re doing. I look at the globe. I think everything is on the table for where it goes. You saw the Mayor of London the other day, put out a statement about WrestleMania. I said ‘We should talk.’ And we should. As should the mayors or the leaders of every other place around this globe.

“If they want WWE come talk to us. We’re open for business. We’d love to be there. Wherever our fans are going to be the loudest and the craziest and the most into what we do, it would be an honor.”

Levesque’s comments seemingly contradict those of WWE President Nick Khan who has said that WWE’s main PLEs will remain in North America for the time being. Fans are continuing to wait for confirmation regarding the location of WrestleMania 41 but Minneapolis and Las Vegas are said to be the favorites. 

As for Europe, WWE will host Clash At The Castle: Scotland in Glasgow next month with WWE Bash At Berlin scheduled for August. While fans eagerly await a WrestleMania in the UK, there’s no shortage of WWE events coming their way. 

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

WWE Speed Will Feature Women’s Division Matches, Triple H Confirms

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Speed, the promotion’s new show featuring high-octane action, will feature women’s matches, CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque has confirmed. 

WWE Speed was announced in February 2024 and sees three-minute matches, ensuring a fast-paced style between competitors. A tournament is currently underway to crown the first WWE Speed Champion and the show is expected to launch on Twitter/X in full this Spring. 

So far, matches for WWE Speed have solely featured male talent. That will change soon enough according to Levesque. During an appearance on X Spaces alongside Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, Levesque confirmed that the show will feature women competing in Speed matches.

There’s no word yet on whether a championship will be created for the women competing on WWE Speed. This revelation will come as good news to Piper Niven who following the announcement of WWE Speed, poked fun at women often being granted only a handful of minutes for their matches. 

What’s to Come for WWE Speed? 

The tournament finals for the WWE Speed Championship will see Ricochet and Johnny Gargano face off on the May 3, episode. Ricochet advanced to the finals with wins over Dragon Lee and JD McDonagh while Gargano bested Angel and Bronson Reed to get to the title match. 

The new show could be a fantastic opportunity for talent who don’t typically get given attention on TV to build support from fans. This can especially be the case for the women of WWE as with only a select amount of opportunities on TV, several talented Superstars are often left on the sidelines. No women’s matches have been announced for WWE Speed yet but expect more news to come in the coming weeks. 

WWE Draft News: More Trades Expected Before May 6 Deadline

Thomas Lowson
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The WWE Draft is not over just yet, as trades are expected to be made in the coming days before the rosters are locked in. The 2024 WWE Draft took place on the April 26, SmackDown, and continued on the April 29, Raw with a total of 56 selections made across the televised and supplemental drafts. Many wrestling pundits and even legends such as The Undertaker have criticized the draft for the lack of significant changes, with the vast majority of Superstars remaining on the brand they were a part of prior to the draft. 

WWE went big with their draft coverage, which received added ‘buzz’ given the excitement surrounding the NFL draft. Things aren’t over just yet though as the new rosters don’t come into effect until next week. According to 2024 WWE Draft rule #6, “Rosters will go into effect on Monday, May 6, two days after Backlash France.” 

That leaves several days for Raw and SmackDown to trade talent before the new rosters are locked in. In prior years, last-minute trades have significantly shaken up the Raw and SmackDown rosters, giving an added level of excitement to the ‘trade deadline’ that occurs over a week after the main draft. 

Late Shakeups

For example, Triple H was drafted to SmackDown in 2004 during the televised draft, but was moved back to Raw days later. Then-SmackDown GM revealed on the post-draft episode of the blue brand that he’d traded the Game for Booker T and the Dudley Boyz. Ironically, Angle became GM after his predecessor Paul Heyman was drafted to Raw. 

These post-draft changes will give WWE time to evaluate their rosters and decide if certain talent would benefit on the show they were not drafted to instead. Fans will have to wait until May 6, before we have confirmation as to what the future holds for the rosters of Raw and SmackDown. 

Here are some wrestler reactions to the 2024 WWE Draft:

Hulk Hogan Won’t Make The Same Mistakes Again After Born-Again Baptism

Thomas Lowson
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Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan is looking to move forward from past mistakes after recently being baptized as a born-again Christian. 

The Hulkster was baptized in late 2023, in a moment he described as the greatest day of his life. Given his accolades in the wrestling world both in and outside of WWE, that’s quite the claim from the former World Champion. 

Hogan’s recent baptism isn’t the first time he’s been part of the Christian faith and for decades, he encouraged fans to “Say your prayers” among other commands. Sitting down with CBN Sports, Hogan reflected on returning to the faith and moving on from the past. 

“I accepted Christ as my savior when I was 14 but I derailed. It wasn’t my life. But he has given me the opportunity to prove that I’m faithful and I’ll never make those same mistakes again… My faith, the momentum was overwhelming. There was nothing stopping me.”

There’s no shortage of mistakes that Hogan hopes his faith will ensure he avoids in the future. Hogan has been criticized by fans and wrestlers as a politicker who influenced promotions so he was on top, often at the expense of talented names on the roster. In 2015, racist comments by Hogan came to light which resulted in his removal from the WWE Hall of Fame. He was reinstated in 2018. 

The Hulkster is all in for Jesus Christ, and so could you, for the right price. The blue John 3:16 shirt Hogan wears in the video is available for purchase from Hogan’s website. The shirt comes in a variety of sizes and colors and features the bible verse as well as Hogan’s logo on the sleeve. 

Hogan is hardly alone in finding faith. Shawn Michaels became a born-again Christian during his 1998-2002 hiatus which would play into his merchandise following his return. The Showstopper would publish a book about his faith in 2015. 

More From Hulk Hogan

Here are some recent articles regarding Hulk Hogan as the WWE Hall of Famer continues to be an icon of the wrestling world: 

WWE Wrestler Scrypts Confirms He’ll Be a Free Agent Soon

Bishal Roy
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NXT wrestler Scrypts has confirmed a rumor that he’s leaving WWE soon.

On Tuesday, he posted a video on social media that provides details on his next moves. With Kendrick Lamar’s new Drake diss song ‘Euphoria’ paying in the background. Scrypts can be seen packing a box with the WWE 24/7 championship and his old mask, before taking off the OTM necklace. The clip concludes with him sitting back and smiling at the camera as the message “Available June 1st” is shown on the screen.

Scrypts joined WWE back in 2020 and portrayed the character of Carmella’s sommelier, Reginald. He went on to enter the WWE 24/7 title scene and enjoyed the title reign four times. His gimmick was eventually repackaged as Scrypts and he moved to NXT. He made his debut in WWE’s developmental brand on November 22, 2022. Initially, he performed wearing a mask but dropped it after his storyline with Axiom. Scrypts went on to form OTM alongside Bronco Nima, Lucien Price, and Jaida Parker.

His most recent match NXT took place in April where he endured a defeat against Je’Von Evans. Most recently, Scrypts was featured in a Snickers ad with OTM and Street Profits. 

You can follow Scrypts (Syndey Akeem) at @ScryptsWWE and find all the necessary information for booking.

Daily Drop (5/1): CM Punk Has Priceless Fan Moment, Power Struggle Building In AEW

Aaron Varble
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It’s the first Daily Drop of May, and we have a lot to cover. Last night saw NXT bring the second night of their Spring Breakin’ event, and there is a lot to unpack.

First off, Wes Lee made his return from injury, and he is going for the North American Title, currently held by Oba Femi. The night concluded with Lola Vice defeating Natalya in an NXT Underground match.

Let’s get into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

New NXT Title: The NXT Women’s North American Championship is coming. On the April 30 episode of WWE NXT, General Manager Ava announced that the title will find its inaugural champion at NXT Battleground on June 9 in a six-woman ladder match in the UFC Apex. Before this event, there will be qualifying matches to decide the participants in the ladder match.

The Rock Responds: The Rock dropped a photo of himself during the WrestleMania 40 walkthrough. This was after reports that he was late and his tardiness caused issues. The timing of this post was apparent that he wanted to make a statement of denial that he was late to WrestleMania.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C6aOICzrbOV

Who Killed WCW?: The trailer for Seven Bucks Productions’ upcoming four-part Vice TV documentary about WCW’s demise is out, and fans are talking about it in a big way. This new documentary, debuting on June 4, promises to include a lot of stories that fans haven’t heard before, and from a different angle as well. This should be a great watch, especially since Dark Side of the Ring creators are also involved.

CM Poop: During Monday’s draft on RAW, CM Punk showed up to surprise Drew McIntyre, who didn’t think he made the trip to the show. Punk later surprised a fan who brought a “CM Poop” sign to the show. The Second City Savior tracked this fan down and had to autograph the sign. He also took photos with the young fans who brought it to the show.

AEW:

AEW Dynamite Card for 5/1:

  • Kenny Omega returns
  • Find out Swerve Strickland’s challenger for AEW World Title at Double Or Nothing
  • FTW Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • AEW TNT Championship: Adam Copeland (c) vs. Buddy Matthews
  • Mariah May vs. Serena Deeb
  • Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brian Cage (with Prince Nana)
  • Samoa Joe vs. Isiah Kassidy

Darby Allin Injury Update: Allin updated fans after he was hit by a NYC bus. He may still appear on AEW television, but his Mount Everest journey is cancelled for now. That being said, his foot is not scheduled to heal until around June, so he has a couple of months left.

Power Struggle: Tony Khan spoke about the power struggle going on in AEW right now. This week’s episode of Dynamite in Winnipeg could be a very interesting one with everything going on in the company. Since Kenny Omega is returning tonight, it’s anyone’s guess how another EVP might weigh into things.

Online Battle: Dax Harwood and Eric Bischoff are having it out on Twitter. This is all in defense of AEW, where Bischoff took the opportunity to call Harwood a “chunky little monkey” who keeps tabs on his timeline.

The Wizard at The Game: Chris Jericho showed up to Game 5 of the NHL Playoffs, where the Winnipeg Jets faced off against the Colorado Avalanche. Jericho pumped up the crowd, but in the end, the Jets were defeated 6-3 by the Avalanche, losing the series 4-1.

Upcoming PPV’s and PLE’s:

Here are the upcoming major wrestling events

  • Saturday, May 4: WWE Backlash France (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: NXT Battleground (PLE)
  • Sunday, May 26: AEW Double or Nothing (PPV)

The Undertaker Comments On Underwhelming WWE Drafts

Anutosh Bajpai
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The Undertaker liked some aspects of the 2024 WWE Draft but he believes that more could have been done to make things exciting for the fans.

The Dead Man reviewed the latest episode of Monday Night Raw on his Patreon Page where he talked about things such as the many commercial breaks during the show and more.

This year’s Draft ran from April 26 to April 29. WWE had brought in a number of legends to announce the picks. The actual Draft results were still criticized by many fans for a lack of any prominent changes.

The WWE Hall of Famer first mentioned that he liked certain presentation aspects of the Draft. The Undertaker later explained, however, that it would have been more exciting if brands were allowed to trade with each other:

“You know what it missed for me? I want to see some deals made right. You know what I’m saying? Like a lot of teams, they want a quarterback. They trade up or they trade down.

You know, that would to me be more compelling to watch. You’re expecting your fan base to watch two nights of TV content. And I mean, to be completely honest, there wasn’t a whole lot of change really.”

There Needs To Be Something More: The Undertaker

The Last Outlaw discussed how there were some promising NXT call-ups in the Draft. He also acknowledged that the officials have to think about the future plans for any talent before placing them on a brand. Though Taker still thinks that something big needed to happen during the Draft:

“It’s difficult to get everyone placed right. You got to get everyone placed where they’re supposed to be moving forward, and I can tell they’re making efforts to do that. The way the Draft is promoted. I just think there needs to be some more something like you said drama, something needs to happen big where people get hooked.”

While the Drafts did not bring in any big change for WWE, there were still some surprising picks made during the two nights. You can check out some superstar reactions to the Draft here.

WWE, Amazon Refute Report That Dwayne Johnson Is Unprofessional: “Ridiculous and False”

Thomas Lowson
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A higher-up with WWE has categorically denies a report that The Rock was significantly late for WrestleMania 40 earlier this month. TheWrap ran a negative piece on Dwayne Johnson this week, accusing the Final Boss of being a nightmare to work with on the set of movies and at other projects. 

WWE Executive Vice President Chris Legentil quickly put a statement addressing the aspects of the story that relate to WWE. Legentil says the story couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, he says Rock was there several hours early and was a pleasure to work with throughout his entire run this year.

“Dwayne was not only on time for Wrestlemania, he was hours early to help with rehearsal — and a pleasure to work with throughout the entire run.”

‘Red One’ Rumor Killer

Dwayne Johnson’s ‘chronic lateness’ and lack of professionalism on set reportedly caused production delays on his new movie project ‘Red One.’ One anonymous source alleges  he ‘relieves himself’ in water battles and has his subordinates dispose it. 

A source close to Amazon MGM refutes that claim by The Wrap and calls these allegations “ridiculous and false.”

“Dwayne Johnson and Seven Bucks have been incredible partners on ‘Red One.’ Any reporting that implies that we got to this point with him showing up seven-eight hours late to set is both ridiculous and false.”

The source added that it is “completely normal” for budget fluctuations to happen within 15% of the target, which is what happened with Red One. The Rock has vowed to return to WWE after the filming of his newest project ‘The Smashing Machine‘ which tells the story of UFC fighter Steve Kerr. 

The Rock was two hours late to an appearance at WWE World, this was out of his hands, but that was chalked up to WWE commitments and bad traffic getting to the event. When he did arrive, he lelate as he was busy watching the Philadelphia Eagles lose. 

First NXT Women’s North American Champion to be Crowned in Ladder Match at Battleground

Thomas Lowson
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WWE NXT Battleground 2024 will be a historic night for the gold brand as the show will see the crowning of the first NXT Women’s North American Champion. 

During the April 30, episode of WWE NXT, General Manager Ava announced that the title will be on the line at NXT Battleground on June 9 in a six-woman ladder match. Before that match though, there will be qualifying matches to determine the entrants in the much-anticipated ladder match. 

This announcement brought out Jaida Parker, who declared that she wanted to be part of the qualifying matches. She was joined in the ring by Sol Ruca and Arianna Grace who had similar intentions. Up next it was ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, who despite being on the SMackDown roster, wants to be part of the Women’s North American Championship hunt. 

The four women brawled before the rest of the NXT Women’s roster came out which led to a bigger brawl in the ring. The qualifying matches are set to begin soon but the entrants have yet to be revealed. 

NXT Battleground won’t just be historic for its introduction of the Women’s North American Championship. The event will take place at the UFC Apex and in partnership with WWE’s sister company under TKO Group Holdings. It will be WWE’s first event hosted at the Apex and shows WWE’s commitment to cross-promotional endeavors as part of TKO. 

Women’s Mid-Card Championships

WWE will soon have a women’s mid-card title, but this isn’t a new idea. Here are some recent articles about having such a title in wrestling:

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