WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan is no stranger to controversy, from both his work in wrestling and outside the squared circle. Recently, the Hulkster stepped his giant boot inside the world of politics, resulting in an uncomfortable situation for the legend this week.
At a Real American Bear promotional event in Rhodes Island, comedian Robby Roadsteamer approached Hogan wearing a homemade ‘MAGA Powers’ shirt, a nod to Hogan’s recent endorsement of Donald Trump. Borrowing a line from Hogan, Roadsteamer asked “Whatchu gonna do when we drop the big boot on trans and everything? Does that work for you brother?” Trump and the Republican party have made their opposition to transgender rights clear throughout the campaign, with Trump threatening severe consequences to those who provide gender-affirming care if elected.
Robby didn’t stop there as he sang “Trump is a real felon. Then he went to Epstein Island” to the tune of Hogan’s ‘Real American’ theme song used in WWE. Security then stepped in to move Roadsteamer away from the uncomfortable Hogan.
Had a word with Hulk Hogan about MAGA and sang his own theme song to him with Epstein Plane lyrics ???? Here's the uncut WideScreen Version! Blue wave coming Brother! #MAGA#Trump#HarrisWalz2024pic.twitter.com/lyV5R5h2zV
Roadsteamer’s appearance at Hogan’s event comes one week after a man was arrested for protesting the two-time WWE Hall of Famer. Nathaniel Livington was arrested earlier this month after protesting Hogan’s appearance at a Kroger store in Liberty Township, Ohio. Livington was joined by others who protested after Hogan asked fans if they wanted him to bodyslam Kamala Harris and made ‘jokes’ about the race of the Vice President.
Hulk Hogan may fight for the rights of every man (according to his WWE theme song) but right now, his support is behind Donald Trump and the Republican Party in this November’s election. While Hogan has the right to endorse who he believes is fit for office, opponents of the Hulkster have as much right to make their views clear on the WWE legend.
Artem Chigvintsev, the husband of former WWE star Nikki ‘Bella’ Garcia was briefly arrested on Thursday in Napa, California on charges of domestic battery.
TMZ broke the story of his arrest noting that a 911 call was made from Chigvintsev’s home reporting a ‘medical emergency’ at around 8:30 AM in the morning. It’s unknown who made the call.
As paramedics and the fire department were en route, however, someone from the house called 911 again and cancelled the request but did not give a reason. The paramedics and fire department both returned to their stations after this call, never making it to the house.
At 10 AM that morning, the deputies responded to a domestic violence call, at a location in the town of Yountville. The Dancing With The Stars regular was arrested on the spot for felony corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant. In order to make the arrest for a felony, the injury on the victim has to be visible.
BBC News revealed that Chigvintsev had been arrested under section 273.5(a) of the California penal code – corporal injury to spouse. If charged as a felony, it could lead to up to a four-year sentence.
Artem has since been released from jail. People has confirmed that Artem was booked in Napa County Jail within an hour of his arrest. He was given a $25,000 bail and released at 2:18 PM PT according to the county records.
Nikki Garcia and Artem Chigvintsev
Nikki Garcia fka Nikki Bella and Artem Chigvintsev first met when they were paired together on the 25th season of the Dancing With The Stars reality show in 2017.
Garcia was still in a relationship with her then-fiancé John Cena at the time but the couple split up a year later. Bella reconnected with Chigvintsev the same year and they announced their engagement in late 2019.
The couple welcomed their son Matteo in July 2020 and they officially got married in a private ceremony held in Paris in August 2022. The duo own a home together in Napa Valley and Instagram stories indicate Garcia was in Napa on Wednesday, presumably to celebrate their second wedding anniversary.
At the time of this writing, the identity of the alleged victim has not been revealed as they have asked for total confidentiality per sheriff’s rep.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office has said that the alleged victim has so far been open to talking with investigators. They have provided some info as to what happened and law enforcement wants the alleged victim to help determine if there is a history of domestic violence with Artem.
The investigation remains ongoing and there is a possibility of other witnesses in the case. The Sheriff’s Office is also planning to discuss the case with prosecutors, with one of the topics of discussion being potential criminal charges against Artem.
Stay tuned with SEScoops for more details on the story.
You can call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) for Domestic Violence Hotline or text START to 88788. More details about the issues can be found at US Department of Justice website here.
WWE boasts one of the largest and most impressive rosters in all of wrestling, constructed of talented individuals from across the globe. Now, one name fans can expect to see much more of in WWE from here on is The Wyatt Sicks’ Nikki Cross.
The 35-year-old from Glasgow, Scotland has signed a new contract with WWE, Fightful Select reports. Negotiations between the two sides had been ongoing since spring, the report adds, before the debut of The Wyatt Sicks on Monday Night RAW.
While Cross hasn’t wrestled for WWE since November of last year, her role in the Uncle Howdy-led faction has ensured her regular TV time. The group
There’ll be no shortage of people in WWE pleased to see Cross re-sign with the company. Sources within WWE who spoke to Fightful have had positive things to say about her. During the pandemic, numerous extras reached out to Fightful to speak about how welcoming Cross had been.
WWE Re-Signings
Cross is the latest notable name to put pen to paper and reportedly re-sign with WWE this year. In June, fellow Scotland native Drew McIntyre re-signed with WWE after lengthy speculation that he could be leaving. McIntyre’s new deal was publicly confirmed by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson of TKO’s Board of Directors, who gifted McIntyre a sword.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Randy Orton has re-signed with WWE. With a reported five-year length, this new contract will keep the 14-time WWE World Champion on the roster until summer 2029. Angel and Berto signed new contracts with WWE. The pair currently appear on SmackDown as part of Legado Del Fantasma.
Hugh Jackman believes Matt Cardona’s Zack Ryder is greater than Wolverine, but what about PCO?
Fans will find out on August 30 as Cardona will step foot into the ring with the inhuman PCO at TNA Emergence. He’ll be fighting for the rights to SDL, Stephanie De Lander, whom Cardona called his property. While speaking with Dominic DeAngelo of One True Sport Cardona made clear that he was a little miffed when Steph, his longtime ally, didn’t invite him to the wedding between her and PCO. “That’s why I had to crash it,” he said.
However, if there’s anything Cardona could pull from his past to give him extra reassurance against the French Canadian Frankenstein, it could be from him once crossing paths with the “Canadian Mutant” in Wolverine, aka Hugh Jackman.
Cardona & Hugh: The Original Deadpool & Wolverine
It’s been over ten years since Jackman became the guest host of the September 19 episode of WWE RAW in 2011, but the movie star came to the aid of Matt by slugging Nic Nemeth and helping him get a victory that night.
“He was so cool, man. Hugh Jackman was incredible.”
– Matt Cardona on working with ‘Wolverine’ Hugh Jackman
Cardona said this was just around the time where WWE finally began acknowledging the popularity of his YouTube channel. Jackman pulled all stops out to help Cardona get Ryder over that night and to this day ‘The Indy God’ thank Hugh for digging his claws into the pro wrestling ring.
“I think it took it to a whole another level and he was such a great guy about itHe like wore my headband. Like he didn’t have to wear my headband out there, right?
I was telling him backstage about the YouTube show he asked if he could be on it. He filmed an open for me and the best part, he held up a sign in early in the night, I don’t think he really read the sign, but it said ‘Ryder is greater than Wolverine.’”
(Author’s note: Madden revealed on the afternoon of 8/29/24 that he actually re-signed with 109.5 The X after noting his contract was expiring this week)
If you’re familiar with WCW or Pittsburgh sports, you’re familiar with Mark Madden, and the sports radio host may be on the verge of a new venture.
The former WCW color commentator has an extensive history in the world of wrestling and earlier this week, Madden teased on social media that it may be his last week at his current radio residence, “109.5 The X” out of Pittsburgh. On Tuesday, Madden said on the air that his contract was going to be running out in four days time while explaining he’s one of the rare media names to be critical of the Steelers in the Pittsburgh area.
“I’m going to be very honest here. And, like, I say what I mean. I’m not like other people on the radio in Pittsburgh, especially now with four days left of my contract,” he said.
“I‘m not like the other people on the radio in Pittsburgh who say stuff for cause and effect. Everything I say, I mean. I’m not a hater. Saying this team’s going to go 9-8, it isn’t being a hater. It is, in fact, being cautiously optimistic if you operate on the reality-based side of the street.”
Madden’s main speciality in Pittsburgh is discussing Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, but obviously being a daily sports talk host, he isn’t afraid to criticize the Steelers. Madden was also one of the sports writers to be on the forefront of the infamous Joe Paterno & Jerry Sandusky Penn State scandal in 2011.
Even after his WCW exit, Madden kept tabs on the product, was the ghost-writer for Ric Flair’s autobiography and even co-hosted Flair’s podcast before the two long-time friends had a public falling out. Madden also teamed with current AEW EVP and Head Of Global Operations, Mike Mansury, for a podcast before the two amicably parted ways.
On Thursday afternoon, Madden noted that he re-signed with the station, with the money being the same but much like Roman Reigns, will have a lighter schedule moving forward.
Baron Corbin got to hang out with Taylor Swift and saw some similarities between her and ‘The Tribal Chief’ in Roman Reigns. Speaking with SEScoops correspondent Scott Fishman for VInsider, Corbin recalled how great Taylor Swift was to interact with at a Kansas City Chiefs game who Corbin is a massive fan of.
“The magnitude that she brings to everything and anything. It was awesome, but the biggest takeaway for me is when you are around her, she doesn’t act like a star. She acts like a normal amazing person. She is very sweet. As soon as I was introduced to her, she gives you a big hug. Then you’re like, “This is crazy. She is the biggest star on the planet right now.” To see someone so humble and how they carry themselves. In that way, it’s nice to see. It really teaches you that when people have an ego they shouldn’t.”
Corbin said how great it was for someone as popular as Taylor to not have an ego and Baron noted that Reigns was like that for the WWE locker room.
my worlds colliding is crazy in what world is baron corbin chilling with taylor swift pic.twitter.com/96k1arGRFj
“It really teaches you that when people have an ego they shouldn’t. You look at how the biggest star in the world acts. You should be the same. It’s the same reason I say in our locker room that if Roman Reigns doesn’t have an ego, nobody on this roster should. He is the standard at the top.”
Corbin did say that he did thik there are similarities between wrestling fans and Swifties, noting that both fanbases are diehards. Both have a tendency to defend their cherished star with guns ablazing.
Swift shares added pro wrestling ties besides meeting up with Corbin.She notoriously babysat Jeff Jarrett’s kids with Jarrett noting how great Taylor was to his family during such a difficult time.
The Vince McMahon documentary series is happening and Netflix has a date in place for people to watch.
On Thursday, Netflix announced ‘Mr. McMahon’ will be begin streaming September 25, 2024. The tagline is, “Mastermind. Madman.” The first details released by Netflix indicate the Janel Grant case will be fair game:
“Mr. McMahon, a documentary series chronicling the rise and fall of the WWE’s controversial founder, is coming to Netflix on September 25. From Chris Smith, Executive Producer of Tiger King, and Bill Simmons.
Including interviews with McMahon prior to his resignation, his family, and some of the most iconic names in wrestling history. As well as the journalists who uncovered McMahon’s allegations.”
Vince McMahon, WWE and Netflix
Netflix’s ‘Mr. McMahon’ documentary series drops only a few months before WWE Raw ‘cuts the cord’ and makes Netflix its new home starting in January 2025. The fact that this documentary is airing is quite telling as to how WWE likely wants to position themselves when it comes to the allegations.
Additionally, Bill Simmons who is an executive producer on the documentary, has always had a positive relationship with the company. The scandal has been a big talking point for pro wrestling fans and wrestlers alike, and was recently referenced by AEW’s MJF on social media.
Vince McMahon initially stepped down from WWE in 2022 only to return six months later, before ultimately leaving the company following the Janel Grant lawsuit which was filed in January 2024.
Mr. McMahon, a documentary series chronicling the rise and fall of the WWE's controversial founder, is coming to Netflix on September 25. From Chris Smith, Executive Producer of Tiger King, and Bill Simmons.
On the latest episode of WWE RAW, fans witnessed an intense and unexpected brawl between Bronson Reed and Braun Strowman that spilled out of the ring and into the parking lot.
According to a new report from Fightful Select, there was considerable excitement and positive buzz backstage regarding how the brawl between Reed and Strowman played out.
WWE officials and creative team members were particularly pleased with the segment’s intensity and the risks taken by both performers.
Potential Implications for Future Storylines
The enthusiastic backstage response suggests that WWE may capitalize on the success of the segment by further developing the rivalry between Bronson Reed and Braun Strowman, or it could just be another step in the push for Reed up the card after he demolished Seth Rollins in recent weeks.
WWE is heading to Germany for this weekend’s Bash In Berlin PLE and former NXT Champion Ilja Dragunov is quite emotional on his return to the city. Dragunov was born in Russia but raised in Berlin, where he kicked off his career.
Speaking to Metro, Ilja Dragunov said that his career is bringing him back to the city where he ‘made his beginnings in this business.’ He spoke about WWE making history in Germany where he not only grew up as a human but also as a performer. He said:
“It is such a wonderful emotional, wild time right now for me, because everything for me is like a whole circle. We’re making history in my country, where I grew up, and not only grew up as as a human, just grew up as a performer. I competed in all those cities.”
Dragunov started his training at the German Wrestling Federation (GWF) training school under veterans Axel Tischer (Alexander Wolfe in WWE) and Rick Baxxter. The 30-year-old gained popularity in wXw and PROGRESS Wrestling before signing with WWE. Now, Ilja is a part of WWE’s ongoing Road To Bash In Berlin tour and performing in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. He faced his arch-rival the World Heavyweight Champion Gunther during WWE’s stop in Oberhausen, Germany, on August 27.
During the interview, Dragunov said that it’s the beauty of pro wrestling that his career is coming full circle. He added:
“And just this comparison from back in the day, from the indie scene where I made my first touches with this business, to now where I’m at the peak of my career. It just shows me how beautiful this, this, this profession is, and how proud I am to be a part of it.”
On next week’s Raw, Ilja Dragunov will compete against Dragon Lee and Dominik Mysterio in a triple threat match in the Intercontinental Title No.1 Contenders Tournament Match. The winner will advance to join Jey Uso and Pete Dunne on their quest to capture the Intercontinental title, currently held by Bron Breakker.
Bryan Danielson considered his AEW World Championship win the greatest moment of his life for several reasons, but leave it to Jack Perry to put a damper on his celebration.
Danielson walked away from ALL IN the new World Championafter he made Swerve Strickland submit, a first in AEW, and on this week’s Dynamite, Bryan was looking for his first challenger, but not before he made a few things clear.
At first, Danielson teasedthat he may be retiring as champ, noting that he’s going to need neck surgery again soon and the promise he made to his daughter, but got Champaign, Illinois amped back up when he said he wasn’t done yet.
He planned to wrestle full time until he lost that title which he didn’t plan on doing anytime soon. That’s when Danielson issued a “first come, first serve” challenge to anyone in the locker room. Jack Perry appeared on the big screen and mentioned the two’s brief history with one another. Suddenly a reveal was made when Perry attacked Danieslon from behind and it was ‘The Scapegoat’ who stood tall to end the show.
Perry is indeed a surprise challenger for Danielson despite getting a definitive victory against Darby Allin at AEW ALL IN. With less than two weeks before AEW ALL OUT, many fans speculated that the quick feud would be against Christian Cage who won a future title shot at the PPV. Being a false father figure, Cage has a built-in story with Danielson considering how major of a plot Brie Garcia and his kids have been. However, that appears to be a feud further down the line.
Mariah May was dressed to celebrate her AEW Women’s Championship win, but decided against doing so in Champaign, IL.
May took out her former friend in Toni Storm to become the new champ this past Sunday at AEW ALL IN and a celebration was advertised for this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. Tony Schiavone was standing on stage during the show and introduced the new champion, who merely came out with a black silk robe on. However, there were no fireworks, balloons or champagnes as May decided that Champaign, IL wasn’t fit for such an occassion.
She ran down the town, claiming it should be called “p*** warm beer” instead of Champaign, and then made a vulgar implication towards the average looking women of the area.
May had Schiavone all kinds of flustered in his ‘Mean Gene’ Okerlund role, and probably got a good deal of the viewing audience the same way when she opened up her robe to show a revealing outfit along with her newly won title.
Mariah wasn’t the only woman celebrating that evening as Mercedes Mone had a little backstage bubbly to celebrate her victory against Britt Baker. Private Party tried crashing the party, but Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen were removed from the premises with a little help from Kazuchika Okada.
NXT No Mercy 2024 is set to be an electrifying event for WWE fans, featuring several high-stakes matches that promise intense action and drama. Scheduled for September 1st, this event will be streamed live on Peacock and the WWE Network. Here’s a comprehensive look at every match taking place at NXT No Mercy 2024.
The main event of the evening will see Ethan Page defend his NXT Championship against the formidable Joe Hendry. With Trick Williams serving as the special guest referee, this match is bound to have unexpected twists.
NXT Women’s Championship Match
Roxanne Perez vs. Jaida Parker
Roxanne Perez, the reigning NXT Women’s Champion, is set to defend her title against Jaida Parker. This match is anticipated to be a showcase of Parker as she looks to prove she can hang at the title level.
NXT Women’s North American Championship Match
Kelani Jordan vs. Wendy Choo
Kelani Jordan will defend her NXT Women’s North American Championship against Wendy Choo. Known for her unpredictable style, Wendy Choo will look to dethrone Jordan in what promises to be a decent match.
NXT North American Championship Match
Oba Femi vs. Tony D’Angelo
Oba Femi is set to put his NXT North American Championship on the line against Tony D’Angelo. Both competitors are known for their physical prowess, but D’Angelo is up against a massive challenge against the near-unstoppable Femi.
NXT Tag Team Championship Match
Chase U vs. Nathan Frazer & Axiom
The NXT Tag Team Championship will be online as Chase U faces the dynamic duo of Nathan Frazer and Axiom.
Grudge Match
Wes Lee vs. Zachary Wentz
Rounding out the card is a heated grudge match between Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz. With personal animosities running high, this match is expected to deliver fireworks and could steal the show.
Call him Sid Vicious, Sid Justice, Sycho Sid, or just plain Sid. Wrestling fans of the 1990s couldn’t avoid one of the most eye-catching and prolific attractions of the era. Sid Eudy had an incomparable look for a wrestling star and went on to play a major role in WWE and WCW alike, with stopovers in ECW and other smaller stages. While there are parts of his legacy that haven’t aged as well as others, he remains the subject of a great deal of nostalgia from some of wrestling’s hottest periods. Moreover, late in life, he role-modeled what life after wrestling perhaps should look like. Sadly, the world lost Eudy on August 26, 2024, but his legacy will remain for quite some time.
Sid Eudy Looked the Prototype of a Pro Wrestler
Though Sid Eudy famously had some real-life hard feelings with Arn Anderson (more on that later), Anderson nonetheless articulated what so many people who followed wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s thought: that Eudy had one of the greatest looks for pro wrestling of all time.
Indeed, billed at 6’9” and 317 pounds, Eudy was jacked to the gills, coming across as an absolute monster every time he walked to the ring. Accordingly, he was a key figure in popularizing some of the most over, fundamental big man offense of his generation and the ones to follow, delivering powerbombs and chokeslams with fiery authority.
Sid Eudy Wrestled in the Main Event of WrestleMania and Starrcade During the Monday Night War
Only a select few wrestlers have been entrusted with working the main event match at WrestleMania, and similarly, only a select class has had the chance to close WCW’s rough equivalent, Starrcade. The number of wrestlers who headlined both of these major shows is even smaller, and those who main-evented both Starrcade and WrestleMania during the white-hot period of the Monday Night War are limited to just two names: Bret Hart and Sid Eudy.
Eudy may seem like a less obvious name to have achieved this dual accomplishment and, in fairness, he was on the losing end of less-than-stellar main events in each instance. Nonetheless, his positioning to headline opposite some of the most iconic stars of the time in The Undertaker and Scott Steiner (not to mention main-eventing ‘Mania opposite Hulk Hogan at the tail end of the Golden Era) reinforces that Eudy was a consistent draw whom fans were eager to see working under the brightest spotlights in wrestling.
Sid Eudy’s Lows Don’t Overshadow the Way He Captured the Imagination of Wrestling Fans
The rise of the Internet wasn’t altogether kind to Sid Eudy. First and foremost, he wasn’t a “work rate” wrestler known to stage five-star classic matches. Moreover, he had some famous blunders during live promos and a weird reputation for allegedly feigning injury so he could play softball each year.
On top of all that, Eudy was involved in an infamous hotel room brawl that purportedly saw him stab Arn Anderson repeatedly with scissors in 1993. The incident wasn’t exactly a secret but exploded into fans’ consciousness online. Additionally, the last image many fans have of the big man was him incurring a horrifying leg injury in the ring during the main event of the Sin PPV in 2001.
There was plenty of reason for Eudy to become the subject of criticism and the butt of jokes following his retirement. Nonetheless, for fans who watched him live—especially as children—it’s hard to erase the aura the man once had. Indeed, for a certain generation, he was quite arguably the defining monster heel (or babyface) of wrestling and captured the imagination like few before or since.
Sid Eudy’s Life After Wrestling
One of the aspects of Sid Eudy’s life that will age quite well is that in a business in which so many people died young, often estranged from their families, or after making regrettable public comments that threatened to “cancel” their legacies, that was not Eudy’s story at all.
Eudy only appeared sporadically in wrestling post-WCW, working a bit on the indies and having a one-off appearance for WWE, taking down Heath Slater on Raw. More notably, his late-in-life social media posts were highlighted by loving photographs of him spending time with his grandchildren, looking content in a quieter life, away from the bright lights of wrestling.
Indeed, one of the sadder parts of Eudy’s final chapters of life is that he had openly written about his desire to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, citing that he thought he had a better shot with Vince McMahon no longer calling the shots. It’s unfortunate that he didn’t live to see this goal come to fruition before succumbing to cancer at the age of 63.
Sid Eudy lives on in the hearts and minds of professional wrestling as an influential star with an awesome look and prominent placement for some huge moments in wrestling history. It’s with a heavy heart and condolences to his loved ones that fans say farewell to The Master and The Ruler of the World.
For viewers in the United States, NXT No Mercy will air live on Sunday, September 1. The Countdown to NXT No Mercy 2024 begins at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the main show starting at 7 p.m. ET. The event is available exclusively on Peacock in the US, where fans can catch all the action as it unfolds live.
Start Time in Europe
Fans in Europe can also enjoy NXT No Mercy live. The start time will vary depending on the time zone:
United Kingdom (BST): The countdown starts at 11 p.m. BST, with the main show beginning at midnight.
Central European Time (CET): The event kicks off with the countdown at midnight CET, followed by the main show at 1 a.m. CET on Monday, September 2.
Start Time in Australia
For WWE fans in Australia, NXT No Mercy will air on Monday, September 2. Due to the time difference, the start times are as follows:
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST): The countdown starts at 8 a.m. AEST, with the main event beginning at 9 a.m. AEST.
Australian Central Standard Time (ACST): The countdown begins at 7:30 a.m. ACST, and the main event starts at 8:30 a.m. ACST.
If you’re a WWE fan eagerly anticipating the NXT No Mercy 2024 event, you’re in the right place. This article will guide you on how to live stream the event, providing all the details you need to ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action.
How to Watch NXT No Mercy 2024 Live
NXT No Mercy will air live on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at 7 p.m. ET. The event will be available to stream exclusively on Peacock in the United States and on the WWE Network for fans in more than 180 countries.
Streaming in the United States
For viewers in the U.S., you can watch NXT No Mercy on Peacock Premium. The subscription service costs $5.99 per month and provides access to every WWE Premium Live Event, including NXT No Mercy 2024, along with a vast library of shows, movies, and sports. To sign up, visit PeacockTV.com.
International Streaming Options
For those outside the U.S., WWE Network remains the go-to platform. Fans in over 180 countries can stream the show live by subscribing to the WWE Network.
With more than 10,000 hours of video on demand, WWE Network offers a comprehensive viewing experience for WWE enthusiasts. Visit WWENetwork.com to sign up.
What to Expect at NXT No Mercy 2024
No Mercy promises a thrilling lineup of matches. The main event will see Ethan Page defending his NXT Title against TNA Superstar Joe Hendry.
Additionally, NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez will face off against rising star Jaida Parker, and former friends Wes Lee and TNA Superstar Zachary Wentz will collide in a grudge match that is sure to be brutal after Lee betrayed his former Rascalz teammates.
It’s a come full circle moment for Paul London as he returns to Major League Wrestling for the first time in 21 years at Summer of the Beasts ‘24. The live event streaming worldwide on the company’s YouTube will see the revolutionary veteran square off with emerging talent BRG. London remembers stepping foot in an MLW ring at a similar career stage as his upcoming opponent in 2003.
“I remember that I was really excited about working with Jerry Lynn like I always am,” London reminisced. “I’m always happy to see him. He is probably the most lovable person in wrestling or one of them at least. I know [Christopher] Daniels was there as well. I think I was most excited about the caliber of talent that Court [Bauer] amassed. I was freshly 22 or 23. It was pretty cool.”
The now-44-year-old calls the experience of returning to the promotion after so much time surreal. “The fact it has been more than 20 years,” London added. “I really am old.”
London had one hell of a run since his first appearance in MLW. He went on to Ring of Honor followed by multiple years in WWE before his release in 2008. From there, he continued entertaining crowds around the world and made a stop back on regular television in the form of Lucha Underground. London is excited about facing BRG.
“It’s an exciting opportunity, especially for him. I got to see what he is all about. He has a lot of talent but a big mouth,” London concluded. “He has long hair. I’m sure it’s his natural hair color. I’m curious which Ryan Gosling is actually his favorite. I’m a curious guy. I also think about other famous people Mark Paul Gosselaar. Maybe he and I will have something in common after I give him a wrestling lesson.”
After all this time London has enjoyed the journey. He remains grateful that people still responding to him after all this time.
“I don’t want people to respond for some nostalgia nonsense though,” he said. “I want them to respond because they didn’t have a choice. That’s always the challenge for me is how can I either not become stale and give the audience something else. It’s intimidating. New York City is a place I’ve always had a lot of good matches there. The one-year anniversary of Ring of Honor we had there. I had a lot of good moments and friends there… have a lot on my plate and none of it is soft food.”
Returning to Wrestling Full-Time
Working in various places throughout the year is something London has always enjoyed. However, he doesn’t rule out signing a contract with another major company.
“I think about it every now and then,” he said. “Sure, if the money is right, but there are other things to consider. I think at this stage of where I’m at so much has to do with if I like this. Am I into this? Is this creative? Am I in a position where I feel I’m going to look stupid or this is bad? It’s very similar to acting where if you get handed a terrible script. What is the point? Then it doesn’t matter what the movie is. I have to like what I’m doing.
“There are projects that don’t pan out. That’s fine. I’m not saying I haven’t taken jobs because of a payday either. It can be a crippling decision-maker if that’s what you base your value on. To me, to sign a contract with a wrestling company would be a matter of who is on the roster, who is in the office, what kind of responsibilities they are looking for in me, and traveling. Will I go to a place where I’ll get devoured by mosquitos? Those kinds of things.”
Giving Back
London enjoys guiding the next generation along. It’s something he aims to do in this current aspect of his career.
“If I can help someone preserve their body or avoid mistakes I made,” he said. “If I can help someone avoid that stuff, I’m happy to do that. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the lightbulb go off. I like to help those who do want this for the right reasons.”
His Former Partner Brian Kendrick
In this world of reunions, one we shouldn’t expect any time soon is London to get back into a tag team with Brian Kendrick. The dynamic duo of high flyers turned heads with a strong run in WWE, evening winning the tag team titles.
“No. We don’t talk,” London answered on the potential of a reunion. “He is doing his own thing and I’m doing mine. It has been mentioned in the past, but I’m just not interested at all. I’m not saying it will never happen. If some money mark wants to come in and say, I’ll give you $50,000 for this one match.” I’m interested now. That’s not going to happen. Who knows? As of now, there is no interest in my book. I wish him well though. I hope he is a happy man.”
The State of Pro Wrestling
Given how ahead of their time the popular team was, Kendrick and London certainly would have made waves together in 2024. However, London doesn’t live in this line of thinking.
“Anyone can be a wrestler now. The standards and integrity have been lost in the wrestling business. That really bothers me,” London said. “I like seeing what creative people do with wrestling now. The athleticism is there and better than it has ever been. It’s outstanding and spectacular, but I don’t buy in the way I used to. I don’t feel the way I used to. We’re all marks at the end of the day. There are varying degrees of mark-ism. We all want to be led along a great story. I want to believe. Wrestling is overly planned, choreographed, and overly produced. It takes a lot of the soul out of the wrestlers.
“I don’t know. Trust your talent and see what happens. There is something thrilling and exciting about not knowing what will happen. That’s as real as it gets. I do love wrestling. I really love it. Thank god for YouTube because I get to watch all these things.”
Despite his hot takes, London still genuinely enjoys what he does for a living. He even has some favorites that happen to be under the MLW umbrella.
“I’m a big Matt Riddle fan. I met him in Germany years ago before he went up to Stamford,” London recalled. “We got along. He is a real dude and I really like the guy. Then I watch his work and i reminds me a lot of Kevin Von Erich. It’s not because of being barefoot. He has a really organic way of how he moves. He was a fighter so he gets it. I’m excited to see his match with Matthew Justice, who I know is a wild one.
There are so many guys I think highly of. TJP is another one. He is an encyclopedia of wrestling holds and moves and combinations. There are so many that impress me.”
There is another London that also admires and will be in action at the big show – and he happens to wear a mask.
“Buying generic toys meant to be The Rock or someone has been fun for me,” London explained. “I recently bought this crapy little ring with luchadors in it and I think it was like $3. One of the figures is Mistico. I was like, ‘Should I bring that? Should I have him take a picture with it?’ I know it’s weird, but I’m such a fan. I love wrestling.”
MLW Summer of the Beasts ‘24 airs live at 7:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.
Kayla Braxton entertained wrestling fans for years as part of WWE’s broadcast crew, but her time in the wrestling business has come to an end. On the Insight podcast, Braxton was asked if her time in wrestling is up now that she’s no longer part of WWE.
“Yeah, I think so… I mean, there’s always the possibility that maybe I pop back in for a fun cameo or something down the road. But yeah, I think my time is done.”
“I think it’s something I’ve been kind of contemplating for a while. I think once I stepped down from The Bump, I moved to Los Angeles, it was very clear I was kind of trying to find what my next phase of life was going to be, career-wise.”
Braxton praised WWE for being supportive of her plans and described her exit as “amicable.” While she doesn’t have any plans currently for a full-time return, she acknowledged that the “door is always open” which she said was “very nice to hear.”
What’s Next?
With Braxton’s time in wrestling over (at least for the time being,) the 33-year-old is now focusing on making a name in acting. Last month, Braxton, now working under her real name Kayla Becker, wrapped her scenes in a new film titled Stranglehold.
Just wrapped my first movie…and I got to do it alongside actors I’ve admired for years! One in particular I’ve always dreamed of meeting someday … never in a million years did I think I’d one day be sharing scenes with them! What is life?! Can’t wait for you to see it! ???? pic.twitter.com/3Bo8R5tyrk
On the podcast, Kayla was coy about plot details but shared it’s based in a strip club before making it very clear that she does not strip. Braxton’s character of Crystal will be joined by some notable names in acting including Ashley Benson (Pretty Little Liars,) Ron Perlman (Hellboy,) and Justin Long (Tusk.)
Matt Riddle believes he can do for RVD what he did for Randy Orton and have a great tag team run with the WWE Hall of Famer.
The team, collectively known as RK Bro, was one of the highlights of WWE programming during the pandemic era. Their run, however, was cut short due to Orton’s back issues which resulted in the Legend Killer taking the longest break of his wrestling career in mid-2022.
The Ultimate Bro discussed his time working with The Viper during an interview with New York Post. He mentioned how Orton was dealing with extreme pain even before they started working together and he was actually able to assist the wrestling veteran by taking more damage himself:
“He wanted to keep wrestling and keep showing his value because the thing about wrestling is you’re only as valuable as the last show you can make it to.
Once, you can’t make it, you’re not as valuable to that company. I wanted to extend his career as long as I possibly could and I knew I could by taking a little of the damage and the brunt of the match.”
Orton isn’t the only wrestling legend Matt Riddle has a good relationship with. Having first met RVD at a cannabis party hosted in the Playboy mansion in 2008, Riddle’s acquaintance with Mr. Monday Night predates his friendship with the 14-time world champion.
RVD has been on a part-time schedule since his last run with WWE ended in 2014 and Riddle believes that he can help extend the career of the former ECW champion:
“I think kind of what I did for Randy, I could kind of do for Rob, if he wanted to, we could probably have a crazy run as a tag team.”
Riddle previously stepped in the ring with RVD during an indie show in March this year. They teamed up to defeat America’s Most Wanted. The duo then had a singles match which ended in no contest.
The two have a partnership outside of the ring as well. They are working on an RV-Bro glass pipe line among other things.
The WWE Performance Center opened its doors in 2013, and ever since, the facility has been a haven for talent looking to hone their skills. Now, NXT head Shawn Michaels has shared his huge vision for the center that he also calls home. Speaking in a video from WWE’s parent company TKO, Michaels shared his plan for a future where all of WWE’s main roster will have come from the PC.
“In a very short amount of time, 100% of the WWE roster is going to be from people who have walked through the doors of the Performance Center.”
Step inside the @WWE Performance Center with @ShawnMichaels, SVP of Talent Development! Watch as he shares his wisdom and takes us through the ultimate training ground where future WWE stars are made.?? pic.twitter.com/kUfXhkP1Aj
WWE’s main roster is currently home to a mix of homegrown talent crafted in the Performance Center as well as talent who made their names before signing with WWE. In the latter case, even talent who’ve established themselves outside WWE will typically spend time in the Performance Center as part of NXT being called up.
Staying in Florida
One change fans shouldn’t expect from the WWE Performance Center is a move to Las Vegas, Nevada. This week, it was reported that the center would be moving soon after eleven years in Orlando, Florida. In a statement to Fightful Select, WWE denied that a move was coming. Explaining reports that Endeavor President Mark Shapiro had shared ‘news’ of the move at a meeting in WWE Headquarters, it was said that Shapiro was speaking of “having a presence” in Vegas and that idea being “on the table.”
Outside the ring, Chris Jericho has held many roles in entertainment, from Dancing with the Stars to leading Fozzy and now the AEW original is returning to the Terrifier film series. On August 28, a new trailer was dropped for Terrifier 3, which will take place five years after the event of the previous film. Jericho appears around halfway through the trailer, though based on the expression on his face, things aren’t going well for the Learning Tree.
Jericho appeared in Terrifier 2, which was released in cinemas in October 2022. For the film, Jericho portrayed a psychiatric hospital nurse called Burke and is reprising the character for the upcoming movie. Terrifier 3 will have its premiere at Fantastic Fest next month and will be released in cinemas on October 11.
Terrifier 3
The new film follows siblings Sienna and Jonathan, who survived the demonic Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre from the previous film in the series. The pair’s efforts to put the past behind them and focus on the approaching holiday season prove impossible when Art returns to unleash his twisted brand of terror on all those unfortunate to come across him.
Chris Jericho And Horror
The first-ever AEW World Champion is no stranger to stepping into the world of horror. One of Jericho’s first feature film roles saw him play Levi in 2009’s Albino Farm, a horror film in which four college students are hunted by cannibals on the titular farm. Unfortunately for Jericho, his first foray into horror was met with negative reviews, and the film has a disappointing 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In April of this year, Jericho was cast in an action-horror film about pro-wrestling, blending two of the 53-year-old entertainer’s passions. Dark Match will tell the story of a small-time wrestling company that accepts a well-paying gig in a remote town only to learn the town falls under a cult leader. In addition to Jericho, the film will star Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead) and Ayisha Issa (Transplant.)
Rey Mysterio has been competing in the ring since he was a teenager, but his legendary career has taken a toll on the WWE Hall of Famer. While Mysterio knows that the end of his wrestling career is coming, he has taken steps to carry on forward in the ring.
On Instagram, Mysterio shared that he visited the RejuvStem facility in Cancun this past July to “enhance my body’s well-being” through stem cell therapy. In just one day, Mysterio underwent the following:
Stem Cell IV
The Myers Cocktail IV
Stem Cells Left Knee
Stem Cells Right Knee
Stem Cells Left Shoulder
Stem Cells Right Wrist
Stem Cells Left Wrist
Shockwave Therapy
1 Hour Hyperbaric Chamber
It may sound like a lot, but the results of this treatment speak for themselves as Rey is without pain for the first time in a long time.
“On Monday August 19th, 32 days exactly after the treatment was my first day waking up completely pain free. No soreness or tightness around the ankles and the pain on my shoulder vanished as well. My body feels incredible and this is only the beginning stage, I know my body well and understand that it is going through the healing process as we speak.”
AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Mone recently revealed that Royal Corgis were part of her entrance at AEW All In London.
During the latest edition of her Mone Mag newsletter, Mercedes Mone revealed that the Corgis who were part of her entrance at the show in Wembley were actually the Royal Corgis. She named Snowdon, Honey, and Jam who were the Corgis for her entrance and revealed that they were descendants of Queen Elizabeth’s Corgis. ‘The CEO’ also revealed how they had a great time backstage. She said:
“Snowdon, Honey, and Jam, were the name of the corgis who I shared my entrance carriage with. These were not just any corgis mind you, they were corgis from actual royal lineage. Snowdon, Honey and Jam were descendants of the Queen’s corgis (as in Queen Elizabeth). Like most corgis, they were so loving and connected. They hung in our dressing room all day and really added a lot of calm and love. Big shoutout to @?corgis_of_eton!“
Mercedes Mone also revealed that she spent over $10K on her outfit. She revealed:
“My hair wasn’t the only thing that cost a pretty penny. My robe, which was so beautiful, grand, and regal, was also my most expensive in my 14 years of wrestling. The whole outfit, in total, cost me over $10,000, All In (no pun intended).”
AEW All In London 2023 She was watching over the competition. AEW All In London 2024 She defends the TBS Title.
Can the TBS Champion Mercedes Moné leave Wembley Stadium #ANDSTILL?
Last year, Mercedes Mone was in attendance for All In London and this year she managed to retain her title at the show. She defeated Britt Baker D.M.D to retain her TBS Championship. This marked Mone’s sixth defense of the title that she won back at the Double Or Nothing pay-per-view in May. ‘The CEO’ will return to the ring at NJPW Capital Collision when she defends her NJPW Strong Women’s Title against Momo Watanabe.
At WWE SummerSlam, Bayley’s time as WWE Women’s Champion was ended by Nia Jax, ending the Role Model’s 117-day reign that began at WrestleMania 40. Since then, Bayley has not competed or even appeared on WWE programming, but now we have an update on the former champion.
Though Bayley has been off-screen, she’s fine and healthy, Fightful Select reports, and has been participating in WWE’s ongoing tour of Europe. On the tour, Bayley has been competing in title rematches with Jax and has been working tag-team matches with Naomi against Jax and Tiffany Stratton.
While Bayley thankfully isn’t hurt, she is seemingly growing restless about her booking, or lack thereof, on WWE TV. On Twitter, Bayley shared the following post about being forgotten.
In the comments, many fans of the Role Model saw this post as a nod to her current absence from WWE programming and believe she deserves more. Some even suggested Bayley make a move to AEW though that seems unlikely. The Role Model signed a new multi-year contract with WWE last December, meaning unless something major occurs, she’ll be a WWE Superstar for a long time to come.
Bayley has held gold throughout her career and has worked with top names including Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus, Alexa Bliss and others. While there’s no sign yet on when fans can expect to see her on WWE TV again, there’s plenty of fans who are itching to see more of the Role Model in the ring very soon.
AEW All In: London 2024marked the end of MJF’s time as AEW American Champion, as well as the end of that star-spangled strap. Now, not only will MJF not be known as the AEW American Champion, but he doesn’t want to be known as an American at all.
On the August 28, edition of AEW Dynamite, a visibly frustrated MJF arrived on the scene and complained about a splitting headache. To chants of “shut the f*** up,” MJF lamented his loss inside Wembley Stadium and claimed he now has herniated discs in his spine.
In stark contrast to his jingoistic title reign, MJF renounced his American citizenship, claiming he wanted nothing to do with “this garbage country.” The only exception MJF made was for his native Long Island, for which his love remains unwavering.
The modern-day Benedict Arnold described the promotion as a “circus” without him at its center, emphasizing his belief that he is the key to AEW’s success. MJF then turned his ire to Will Ospreay, the man who dethroned him and became AEW International Champion at All In: London. The scumbag vowed to screw Ospreay over whenever the Brit gets close to winning the AEW World Championship.
Turning On Your Country
MJF joins a select number of wrestlers to turn their backs on the United States, including Sgt. Slaughter who turned on the U.S. to support Iraq in the Gulf War. Years later, Rob Conway would become a French ‘sympathizer’ and align with La Resistance despite being from Louisville, Kentucky.
