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MJF Gets New Merch Following Surprise AEW Return

Dominic DeAngelo
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MJF is back in the wrestling business and he put all of the AEW on watch.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman made his return to the company at Double Or Nothing this past Sunday in Las Vegas and had some choice words for fans, including addressing his contract status.

MJF made it perfectly clear that he should be known as ‘The Wolf Of Wrestling’ and much like Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf Of Wall Street, he “ain’t f***ing leaving!”

Sure enough, right after Double Or Nothing ended, AEW’s merchandise department made the most of that moniker and quote by putting it on a tee shirt.

AEW promoted the shirt on socials and MJF reposted it on his own account. The tee does reflect the font of The Wolf Of Wall Street movie poster.

MJF shocked Las Vegas by showing up, dressed up in the 2002 street garb of Triple H and hitting Adam Cole with a massive brainbuster. Friedman got on the mic, disparaged his former comrade Cole and also revealed a new tattoo on his ankle. The new ink is an AEW poker chip that has the text of “bet on yourself.”

The former AEW World Champion has been off programming since dropping the gold to Samoa Joe at December’s World’s End PPV. Despite never getting a rematch for his previous hardware, current AEW World Champ Swerve Strickland said that MJF has to earn his shot to enter his “house.” Strickland happened to successfully defend his title against Christian Cage in one of the three main events.

Update On When Eddie Kingston Is Getting Surgery

Dominic DeAngelo
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Eddie Kingston is getting surgery done, but it’s actually further down the road than one would think.

According to Mike Johnson PWInsider, the former Triple Crown Champion in AEW is set to go under the knife for his torn ACL and meniscus on July 8. The reason for the hold-up is that Kingston has to wait for his fractured tibia to heal.

Kingston suffered the unfortunate injury during the NJPW Strong Resurgance event as he defended his NJPW Strong Openweight Title against Gabe Kidd.

The word is that Kingston will be out of action for at least a year. With his tibia expected to heal over two months, his ACL and meniscus tears are expected to take around 10 months to heal after his surgery in July.

Before getting injured, Kingston was one of the four fighters to go up against The Elite in the Anarchy In The Arena match. Eddie was ultimately replaced by a returning Darby Allin who showed up last week on AEW Dynamite. Team AEW consisted of FTR, Bryan Danielson and Allin while The Elite had The Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry.

While Team AEW didn’t win, Allin may have been the unofficial MVP of the bout because he was wielding a flame thrower and lit Jack Perry’s legs on fire.

Even though Kingston is on the shelf, it hasn’t stifled his passion for pro wrestling. While injured, Kingston has shared that he’s been watching watching matches of Asuka, who Eddie named as one of his modern favorites.

We at SEScoops want to wish Kingston a speedy and healthy recovery.

New Cryptic QR Code During WWE RAW Continues Strange Backstory

Aaron Varble
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WWE continues to build toward a huge angle with QR codes. The trend continued during this week’s episode of RAW.

During Ilja Dragunov’s entrance before his match against Ricochet, another QR code appeared on the screen. Michael Cole, once again, pointed it out, saying, “there’s that damn QR code, again.”

The QR code this week led to a video featuring a woman who had been reported missing. In the video, she spoke about her captor, stating she was never in any harm and was happy that he “set her free.”

Upcoming Stable

A lot of hype is growing about Uncle Howdy’s new stable, with Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross, and Erick Rowan reportedly involved. Fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of this new faction.

The teases began at the end of the Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal documentary, suggesting someone might continue Wyatt’s legacy. With Bo Dallas taking on the Uncle Howdy character, Wyatt’s story may carry on in this way.

WWE has strategically placed these hints across various platforms, including their WWE 2K24 video game. We will continue to monitor for any new updates on this unfolding storyline.

Report: Becky Lynch’s WWE Contract Expires This Week

Aaron Varble
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Becky Lynch’s loss of the Women’s World Title to Liv Morgan at King & Queen of the Ring has surprised many fans. They have quickly scheduled her rematch for RAW this week in a steel cage match, bringing her contract status into sharp focus.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that, as of this morning, Becky Lynch and WWE had not yet reached an agreement on a new contract, although they have been in contact. It is unclear if a deal is imminent or if it will affect her match tonight.

Lynch’s current WWE contract is set to expire on June 1, which would make her a free agent unless a new deal is reached. Many in the industry expect Lynch to receive the largest offer ever for a female wrestler.

Beck Lynch Wasn’t Worried

In an interview with Chris Van Vliet before WrestleMania XL, Lynch stated she wasn’t worried about her contract status. When Ariel Helwani asked if she could engage with other companies, she replied, “Ahhh…I’m with WWE,” adding uncertainty about her situation and noting it is uncommon for her not to have a new deal as her current one nears expiration.

Helwani also asked if she felt offended by not having a new deal. Lynch responded confidently, “At this stage in the game, contrary to a lot of the thoughts in this book of where I was coming up, I am so confident in my ability and my worth. Nah, I’m not worried.”

Endeavor is handling WWE contracts differently, as seen with Lynch’s husband, Seth Rollins, who re-signed a new deal before his contract expired. It remains to be seen what will happen with Lynch, but she could become a major free agent in June if WWE does not finalize a new contract.

Mark Henry Explains Reason Behind His AEW Exit

Aaron Varble
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Mark Henry surprised a lot of fans in 2021 when he showed up in AEW. Now, he has bid the company farewell.

During today’s edition of Busted Open Radio, Mark Henry announced that his time in AEW is over. Henry stated that his contract with AEW is set to expire tomorrow, and he wanted to address the matter. Henry mentioned that Tony Khan expressed his happiness and pride in what they achieved together, a sentiment Henry shares. Henry appreciated his time at AEW but felt it was time to focus on TheMarkHenry.com and the ReMarkable brand, so he decided not to renew his contract.

The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion explained that the decision was mutual and based on the understanding that he could not dedicate 100% of himself to AEW. He emphasized the positive experiences he had and his efforts to help as many people as possible. Henry mentioned that he is not leaving pro wrestling entirely but needs time to work on some projects before returning full force.

The WWE Hall of Famer and former World Heavyweight Champion signed with AEW in 2021, debuting at that year’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view. Since joining, Henry has served as an analyst, coach, scout, and mentor, with most of his on-screen work being as an interviewer and personality on AEW Rampage.

Neither Henry nor AEW President Tony Khan have publicly discussed Henry’s future. When not appearing for AEW, Henry hosts the Busted Open Radio podcast with fellow WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray and other industry names.

Mark Henry’s Future

Triple H has brought back several names since he took control of the company’s creative direction. It is not hard to imagine that Henry will find his way home in WWE eventually.

Henry has not competed since WWE’s Greatest Royal Rumble 2018 Premium Live Event, where he participated in the titular match won by Braun Strowman. His most recent singles match was on the February 13, 2017, edition of Monday Night Raw, where he was also defeated by Strowman. While Henry has teased a return to the ring for one last match, he has said he is unsure what it would take to make that happen.

Although Mark Henry never won a title in AEW, he held the World Heavyweight Championship for 91 days in 2011 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018.

On the home front, Mark’s son, Jacob Henry, is making his own waves. The massively talented athlete just signed to wrestle for the University of Oklahoma. 

QR Code Found In WWE 2K24 Adds New Layer To WWE’s Ongoing Mystery

Thomas Lowson
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WWE’s ongoing QR code mystery has found its way into the WWE 2K24 video game with a mysterious video telling fans “He Sees You.”

Fans who loud up WWE 2K24 are met with a code that links to a website where a video plays. You can check out the full video below. 

The video uses several themes and motifs seen in previous QR code videos. These include the image of a raven and a reminder to “Remember Who You Are.” In the closing moments of the video, a figure can be seen removing a veil. Many believe this to be an incarnation of ‘Sister Abigail’ who was a fixture of Bray Wyatt’s lore for years. 

11:19

The website’s URL also contains a connection to Bray Wyatt who tragically passed away in August 2023 at the age of 36. In 2019, fans noticed that clocks inside the Firefly Fun House with Wyatt himself ‘fixing’ Abby The Witch’s clock with a hammer so that it read 11:19

The URL for the site features 11-19, though it remains unclear what this is explicitly referencing. Some in 2019 believed the numbers referenced November 19, the date The Undertaker debuted for the WWE back in late 1990. Some felt it referenced the biblical verse Ezekiel 11:19 that speaks of God giving a new spirit in his followers. 

Where Is This Going?

It is believed that all of these cryptic messages are building towards the return of Uncle Howdy as portrayed by Bo Dallas. The former WWE NXT Champion was rehired by WWE in 2022 and shared the screen with his brother Bray Wyatt before the latter was pulled from TV due to his health issues. Dallas is expected to return with a faction that will include Joe Gacy, Nikki Cross, Dexter Lumis, and the recently rehired Erick Rowan.

Many have speculated that we are getting close to the big reveal behind this mystery. Thanks to the Twitch and WhatsApp takeovers, teases of what is to come have grown increasingly frequent in recent days. On WWE TV, it’s been teased that answers will be coming sooner rather than later.

Shotzi Undergoing Stem Cell Therapy to Undo Years Of Back Pain

Thomas Lowson
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WWE Superstar Shotzi is hoping that the usage of Stem Cell Therapy will help her undo a significant issue with her back that has bothered her for years. 

Shotzi is in Mexico to get stem cell treatment and has said she’s been wanting the treatment for two and a half years after previously suffering a back injury. Shotzi tore her ACL during an episode of WWE NXT that has kept the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion on the shelf ever since. In a silver-lining moment, Shotzi’s time away due to her ACL injury has given her time to focus on healing her back. 

Shotzi hasn’t competed since February 2024. 

Stem Cells & Wrestling

Several notable names in wrestling have been aided with stem cell therapy. This list includes WWE Hall of Famers Rob Van Dam, Rey Mysterio, and Kevin Nash. This month, MVP shared that he was undergoing stem cell treatment in Mexico and made clear that he isn’t finished in the ring yet. 

In 2019, shortly before his return to the ring, Adam Copeland said he had been looking into stem cell therapy. At the time Copeland was optimistic that he COULD return to the ring within five years but as we all know, he returned far sooner than that 2024 prediction. 

Stem Cells: What Are They? 

Stem Cells have two main features that make them valuable in treatments such as these: they are self-replicating and can become various types of cells. Stem Cells are also considered controversial as there have been debates as to the ethics of research involving the development and use of human embryos. Not all stem cell research involves human embryos. 

MJF Wants Everyone To ‘Grab Some Chapstick’ Following AEW Return

Dominic DeAngelo
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MJF is back in AEW. He’s got a new look, a new tattoo, but not a new attitude. 

The former AEW World Champion made his surprise return at Double Or Nothing in Las Vegas, taking out a promo-cutting Adam Cole with a brainbuster. He demeaned his former best friend and then called out the locker room for needing a New Japan or a Vince McMahon. MJF then made it clear that he’s the new Wolf Of Wrestling and that he “Ain’t f***ing leaving” AEW

Max was far from done with the coarse discourse as he took to social media to make it known he’s been a factor for the five years of AEW.

“Y’all were gagging on it with a smile on your face for 5 years straight, then pretended you didn’t like the taste? If I were you I’d grab some chapstick cuz I’m about to take over the game you love, AGAIN. #BetterThanYou”

Fans haven’t seen MJF since AEW’s World’s End PPV at the end of December as he’s been recovering from injury. Max lost to Samoa Joe at that PPV and it was pretty evident that Friedman inked a new deal with AEW despite a storyline trying to create suspicion.

Speaking of ink, MJF also revealed that he got a new tattoo to further hammer home that he’s AEW-committed. During his return promo, Max made the cameraman zoom in to see a classic style tattoo on his ankle of an AEW poker chip with the words, “Bet On Yourself.”

Asuka The Latest Victim Of Autograph-Seeking Airport Wrestling ‘Fans’

Dominic DeAngelo
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The fine readers of SEScoops know to respect the personal space of the talented athletes who put their bodies at risk for our entertainment. However, there are some folks out there who cross the line and put wrestlers in uncomfortable positions, including approaching them when they’re with their children, out eating or clearly making it known that they’d appreciate privacy.

Asuka is the latest WWE star to be swarmed by ‘fans’ at the airport expecting her to sign merchandise that many of them will directly put for sale online. Footage has been posted on social media of Asuka signing items for an eager gathering of wrestling fans while in between towns.

As seen below, it’s apparent that many of the items are likely bound for online auction. Some examples of this are individuals holding out full pages of what appears to be trading cards likely featuring the star, as Asuka is seen signing one item multiple times in different areas.

Wrestlers Being Swarmed At Airports Has Become An Ongoing Problem

The trend of autograph seekers such as the ones mentioned above has become an unfortunate trend at airports. Over this last year, many fans on social media have became accustomed to the likes of Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy and Rhea Ripley all dealing in similar situations. 

Ripley was one name to express her frustrations at aggressive airport “fans” and started to set a strict guideline about what she would sign.

“Today has put me off completely! I will not sign ANYTHING that isn’t a personal photo of us anymore. Hate me, I don’t care.  Disagree with me, try putting yourselves in our shoes for one bloody day.”

Kris Statlander was another star to note about the boundaries these autograph seekers will step over to get an item signed.

Logan Paul Reveals The Story Behind Viral 360 Table Dive at King & Queen Of The Ring

Rayan Saayed
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0

At King and Queen of the Ring, Logan Paul challenged Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. While Rhodes retained his title in an entertaining match, it also featured a drone which captured Paul’s Frog Splash to opponent Rhodes.

Paul shared a screenshot of texts on Twitter, revealing that he had pitched the idea of drones capturing him performing the high-flying move last year. The 29-year-old wrote that he has “been dreaming of that shot for a year.”

In the screenshot of the text thread, Paul is addressing a “boss” of his at WWE, which was sent on May 10, 2023. Paul wrote in the messages that he had pitched the idea of drones recording him while he does a high-flying jump for WrestleMania, but it was shot down due to some “venue issues.”

“Just another cool way to capture a Frog Splash that has never been done before. Creatively pushing media boundaries,” he wrote in his pitch.

While the idea didn’t come to fruition at the time, the United States Champion’s suggestion to pushing these boundaries was taken seriously by WWE this time around. On May 25, 2024 at the Jeddah Super Dome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a drone captured a 360 degree shot of Paul as he jumped off the top rope onto Rhodes through a broadcast table.

RELATED: Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After King And Queen Of The Ring Went Off Air

It was certainly a spot that looked impressive on screen, and the drones gave a unique look of the maneuver to audiences.

As for the Undisputed WWE Championship match, it took place at King and Queen of the Ring after Rhodes challenged Paul for a Champion vs. Champion match after the post-Backlash France episode of SmackDown. While it was stipulated that both the titles would be on the line, Paul tore up the contract and brought out his own terms instead, which stated that only Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship would be on the line.

After their match, Paul wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he had “so much fun” going head-to-head with Rhodes. Paul showed his gratitude by thanking his opponent “for the dance.”

MJF Paid Tribute to Triple H at Double or Nothing

Rayan Saayed
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0

MJF made an explosive return to AEW TV at AEW Double or Nothing, and he paid tribute to Triple H while doing so.

What’s interesting about the return is that the Salt of the Earth was wearing a jacket that looked very similar to one that Triple H wore when he returned back to the company after a while in 2002.

Back in May 2001, Triple H suffered a career-threatening injury. On an episode of Raw Is War, Triple H and Steve Austin were defending the WWF Tag Team Championship against Chris Jericho and Chris Benoit. When Jericho applied the Walls of Jericho move to Austin, Triple H ran towards them to break it up, but he suffered a tear in his left quadriceps muscle. This injury caused The Game to be sidelined for eight months, and he even missed the iconic Invasion storyline because of it.

The Cerebral Assassin then made his return to Raw in January 2002 in Madison Square Garden. During his return, he wore a denim jacket, which became an iconic symbol marking Triple H’s return. Triple H then went on to win the Royal Rumble that year and even won the Undisputed WWF Championship.

Quite similar to Triple H, MJF was also away from the ring for quite some time. He was last seen in the ring defending the AEW World Title in a losing attempt to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. The event took place on December 30, 2023. Sporting a similar jacket to Triple H, MJF signalled to audiences that his era is upon AEW, and he is here to stay. It remains to be seen what trajectory his career takes from here.

There were also some rumors swirling that the former AEW World Champion is bound for WWE, however these rumors were laid to rest for good after the return. In fact, he made his contract status with AEW very clear by showing off a tattoo of the company’s logo on his ankle. You can read more about how the return took place here.

Swerve Strickland Reveals How Floyd Mayweather’s Double Or Nothing Appearance Was Planned

Bishal Roy
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AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has revealed that Boxing legend Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather’s appearance at last night’s Double Or Nothing was long time coming.

In one of the headlining matches at the pay-per-view, Swerve Strickland successfully defended the AEW World title by defeating Christian Cage. Following the match, Swerve celebrated with the fans in the front row as well as Floyd Mayweather Jr.

During the AEW Double or Nothing post-show media scrum, he was asked about how Floyd Mayweather’s attendance materialized. The World Champion revealed that ‘Money’ has been a friend. He said that since he has connections, he would bring people like Floyd Mayweather to “blow this place up.” 

“Floyd has been a friend of ours, my man Flash Garments, he gets a free pass every time he comes to All Elite Wrestling. We’re here to grow and not just take. If we have opportunities and connections, we’re going to bring them here every single time. We want to blow this place up and be the catalyst of it. That’s how Floyd came through.” 

He added that Floyd’s appearance has been in the discussions for two years and finally was able to make it at Double Or Nothing. Swerve Strickland said:

“We’ve actually been talking to Floyd for like two years. His whole family, have him come through every time we’re in Vegas. Finally, he was like, ‘Alright, this is the day. We’re pulling up.’ He pulled up, made it to the match, we pulled out a banger in front of him. He’s like, ‘I’m in.’ We might have Money Team invested in this whole thing,”

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has made a handful of appearances for WWE in the past. He defeated The Big Show (Paul Wight) at WrestleMania 24 to script one of the biggest moments in the company. His last appearance for the promotion took place back in 2009. Meanwhile, this marked his first appearance in AEW.

Swerve Strickland’s next title defense 

This marked Swerve Strickland’s first title defense at a pay-per-view since dethroning Samoa Joe at AEW Dynasty last month. He will be gearing up for his next title match that will take place at AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view on Sunday, June 30.

It has been announced that on the May 29, edition of AEW Dynamite, a Casino Battle Royale take place to determine the Strickland’s challenger at the upcoming pay-per-view.

Check out the post-show media scrum below:

Will Ospreay Fires Back At Critics Of His Lighter Schedule After Double or Nothing 2024 Win

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Will Ospreay has challenged any wrestler in the world who thinks he is the best, to come and challenge him for the AEW International Championship.

The Aerial Assassin took part in the post Double or Nothing 2024 media scrum after defeating Roderick Strong to win the title at the PPV event. The AEW star was asked if he was thinking about his family while winning the title.

Ospreay explained that he is always thinking about his family and they are the most important aspect of his life. He also took a jab at the people who criticize his decision to pick a lighter work schedule, asking them to show anyone who is better than him:

“I think about my family in every decision I ever make. My family is the most important aspect of my life and yeah more time with my family was the main reason why I took this job but also becoming one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet. I think a lot of people want to look past that. They just think I’m not working as hard but like if you can show me a wrestler that is working at the same level as I am…like, be my fucking guest bro. This is the one thing that I’m like, very stern upon and very happy to say.”

I Dare You To Step Through The Door: Will Ospreay

Will Ospreay later expanded on his comments about testing AEW’s partnerships with different companies around the world as the International Champion. He claimed that in his hands the International Title is the best title in the world and anyone who thinks they are better can come and challenge him:

“I’m opening the doors to any professional wrestler that is willing to step through the door and to try and take this championship off me because right now, for me this championship has the lineage of kind of like the workhorse title, right? That’s kind of like what everyone wants to call it. When it’s in my hands, this title is the best wrestling title in the world. And if you think that you are the best wrestler in the world, then I dare you to step through that door. I’ve got the keys to that forbidden door, and it’s very hard to knock through it.”

You can check out the full Double or Nothing media scrum below:

The Young Bucks: No Other Company Has Done What We’ve Done With AEW In 5 Years

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

The Young Bucks are proud of what they’ve achieved with AEW in 5 years.

The AEW EVPs picked up a big win at the 2024 Double or Nothing PPV when they teamed with Kazuchika Okada and Jack Perry to defeat Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, and FTR in an Anarchy In The Arena match at the show.

The brothers took part in the post show media scrum where they talked about the 5-year anniversary. Matt Jackson noted that it’s crazy to revisit the MGM Grand Garden Arena once again for the 5th anniversary of AEW’s first show.

This Is Unbelievable: The Young Bucks

The Young Bucks then claimed that no other company has been able to achieve in 5 years what they have been able to accomplish with AEW:

“What we have accomplished here at AEW, it’s unprecedented. I feel like there’s a lot of ungrateful folks, some people in this room. Some people in the locker room, a lot of people out there tonight.

What we’ve done in five years, no other company — no other wrestling company, certainly, has ever done. And I think that sometimes you’ve gotta stop and you gotta smell the roses, and go ‘Look at what we’ve done! Look at the PPVs we’ve had. Look at the in-ring matches that we’ve had.’ This is unbelievable!”

The Bucks later talked about their new limited-edition Reebok Pumps and introduced miniature AEW World Title belts that you can tie to your shoes.

The media scrum also featured the AEW President Tony Khan who revealed that they have been thinking about introducing new Mix Tag Team Championships.

You can check out the full AEW Double or Nothing media scrum below:

Giulia To Undergo Surgery For Wrist Injury As Future In WWE Awaits

Thomas Lowson
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Japanese wrestling sensation Giulia will go under the knife to repair her wrist which could put plans for her in WWE NXT on pause. 

Giulia suffered the injury during a tag-team match which saw herself and Utami Hayashishita face Sareee and Bozilla. Despite the injury happening mere minutes into the match, Giulia continued to compete throughout the bout which lasted over 28 minutes. 

The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion will have surgery on her wrist on May 28, Tokyo Sports report. Giulia told the publication that she had been advised that surgery was the best course of action. 

“I was told that having surgery would be the quickest way to recover, and I made the decision because I wanted to be in top condition to wrestle against Saree.”

A match against Sareee has been announced for the Marigold Summer Destiny event on July 13. Giulia intends to wrestle at the event and is confident she will be healed in time for the event. In the meantime, Giulia is looking forward to taking things easy for the first time in a while. 

“I’ll be away from home for three nights and four days, so it’s like going on a trip to the countryside. I won’t be able to move around, so I’ll spend my time watching movies for the first time in a while and watching various wrestling videos.”

Giulia is still hoping to compete at Marigold’s next event.

Giulia’s WWE Future

With this surgery, questions remain as to what the future holds for Giulia in WWE. The Japanese star appeared at NXT Stand & Deliver 2024 and remained in Philadelphia for the WrestleMania 40 festivities. Giulia is set to join WWE NXT later this year though this injury has caused doubts among fans as to when she’ll be joining. 

WWE officials remain optimistic that Giulia will be healed in time to compete at the NXT Heatwave event on July 9. Giulia is expected to be thrust into the NXT Women’s Championship picture with one source claiming she’ll have an impact in NXT that rivals what Asuka achieved during her two years with the gold brand. 

Tony Khan Has Been Thinking About Adding Mixed Tag Team Titles To AEW

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Tony Khan has been thinking about adding yet another championship to the AEW line up though it may not be what fans are expecting.

The AEW President took part in the post-Double or Nothing media scrum to discuss the event. He was asked about the potential of adding a tag team or a trios title to the women’s division.

Khan claimed that they have talked a lot about potential championship additions to AEW. He explained that they are currently trying to build the company’s Women’s Division back to its previous strength. Tony specifically gave the example of the 2021 All Out PPV which featured a 21 Women Battle Royal as well as a singles match between Britt Baker and Kris Statlander.

It Would Set AEW Apart: Tony Khan

Speaking about a potential tag belt for Women, Tony Khan revealed that he actually has interest in introducing mixed tag titles for competitors:

“Those are both very interesting championships, I also think something different we could do here, that I have had interest in, would be mixed tag team championships. I think we have a lot people that are lined and said yes and nodded really quickly when I said that because a lot of people would be interested in that too. That’s different than what other major promotions have, and I think it would set AEW apart. So I’m also interested in mixed tag team championships.”

Tony Khan also commented on the return of MJF to AEW and his announcement to stick around the promotion. He said that seeing the Salt of The Earth return on the 5-year anniversary of AEW was a great moment for fans.

Apart from Khan, The media scrum featured names such as the new TBS Champion Mercedes Mone who claimed that joining AEW actually saved her life.

You can check out the full Double or Nothing 2024 press conference below:

Wrestling World Reacts to AEW Double or Nothing 2024 Pay-Per-View

Thomas Lowson
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0

The wrestling world has let its voice be heard about the various huge moments from the recent AEW Double or Nothing 2024 pay-per-view. 

The latest major event from All Elite Wrestling took place at the MGM Grand Arena in Paradise, Nevada and marked the sixth-annual Double or Nothing event. The show saw The Elite triumph in Anarchy in the Arena while Mercedes Mone made a successful in-ring debut for AEW by capturing the TBS Championship. 

Reactions to AEW Double or Nothing 2024

During the TNT Championship match, Gangrel appeared to aid his Brood ally Adam Copeland during his match with Malakai Black. On Twitter, Matt Hardy (another Brood alum) was pleased to see the vampiric wrestler help Copeland overcome the might of the House of Black. 

WWE Superstar Zelina Vega, who is married to Malakai Black, was understandably not a fan of the match that saw her husband choked out with barbed wire. 

Nyla Rose was impressed by the TBS Championship match and she made a reference to Adam Copeland’s days as Edge to share her excitement on Twitter. 

WWE Superstar Naomi was pleased to see Mone win her debut match and the TBS Championship. The pair famously walked out of WWE together in May 2022. 

Thunder Rosa was able to snap a photo with the new AEW TBS Champion and claimed that things are just getting started in the All-Elite promotion. 

Alice Blair had a role to play at Double or Nothing as she presented a letter to Anthony Bowens and was excited to have been part of the show. 

Mark Henry was pleased to see MJF make his return to AEW at Double or Nothing. The former World Champion confronted his former friend Adam Cole at the event. 

AEW Double or Nothing was certainly a show that displayed a wide selection of styles for fans to enjoy. Now, attention turns towards this week’s AEW Dynamite and the upcoming AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door crossover event next month. 

Swerve Strickland Says MJF Will Have To Earn The Right To Challenge For AEW Title

Anutosh Bajpai
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0

Swerve Strickland knows MJF challenging him for the World Title is a real possibility but according to him, the returning star has a lot of work to do before he gets a shot at the title.

The Salt of The Earth made his triumphant return at tonight’s Double or Nothing PPV and confronted Adam Cole. After taking out Cole, MJF confirmed that he will not be leaving AEW anytime soon.

Swerve took part in the post-Double or Nothing media scrum after successfully defending the AEW title against Christian Cage at the PPV. He was asked about the possibility of the Devil challenging for his title, and Strickland said that it’s a real possibility:

“It’s a possibility, and that’s the beauty of this whole company: everything’s possible. I know he has probably some unfinished business with what Undisputed Kingdom did to him and Adam Cole, he probably wants to finish up some things. But it just goes to show you, I’m not one of the ones you can just walk over and come at any time, any place, anywhere when you see fit. While you were gone, I was building. And while I was building, I was making this place a fortress.”

You’ve Got Work To Do: Swerve Strickland

Swerve Strickland said that he is not against MJF challenging for the title at a future date. According to the current champion, however, our favorite scumbag will have to prove himself worthy of a title shot first:

“So you can come in. And I’m not even saying you can’t even challenge for the World Championship. But you got work to do, just like I had work to do. You’ve got work to do. Show me something, because this ain’t the same All Elite Wrestling from where you left.”

The AEW star said that the company has changed a lot since MJF lost the AEW title at the World’s End PPV in December last year. It’s up to the former champion to figure out where he fits in this new picture of the promotion.

You can check out the full Double or Nothing media scrum below:

Mercedes Mone: Coming Here To AEW Has Saved My Life

Anutosh Bajpai
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Mercedes Mone says wrestling not only changed her life, but it also saved her life.

The CEO made her in-ring debut for Tony Khan’s promotion at tonight’s Double or Nothing PPV from Las Vegas. She defeated TBS Champion Willow Nightingale to win her first title in the company.

The new champion took part in the AEW media scrum after the show. When asked how it felt to return to the ring after over a year of inaction, Mone claimed that AEW saved her life:

“Wow. How did it finally feel after a year of being away from something that I loved since I was a little girl? Wrestling has not only changed my life, but saved my life. And coming here to AEW has saved my life, Tony. It’s given me new hopes, new dreams, new chances, new opportunities.”

AEW Is Where The Best Wrestle: Mercedes Mone

Mone put over her opponent for the night, Willow as one of the greatest women she has ever stepped in the ring with. Mercedes then claimed that AEW showed tonight that WWE is not the only place for wrestlers:

“It feels so incredible. I’ve been waiting for this moment, really ever since I got signed to AEW. But really, for the past two years, not knowing where I was going to be. What was going to happen after leaving WWE, what was going to be next for me. Because a lot of times in wrestling, people think WWE is the only place. And I think tonight, we showed the wrestling world that it’s not the only place. AEW is where the best wrestle.”

Mercedes Mone later talked about Double or Nothing being the 5 year anniversary of the company’s first ever show and claimed that they are going to show the world that AEW is the best place to be.

You can check out the full AEW Double or Nothing media scrum below:

Watch: What Happened With Bryan Danielson After Double or Nothing 2024 Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Bryan Danielson received a huge ovation from the crowd after tonight’s chaotic Double or Nothing main event ended and the show went off air.

AEW delivered everything they had promised and more for the Anarchy In The Arena match between Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry & FTR, Darby Allin and Danielson. This included Darby Allin getting hit by another bus and Jack Perry being set on fire by a flamethrower.

Toward the end of the bout, The Young Bucks hanged Darby Allin upside down from a cable in the middle of the ring. The former TNT Champion’s teammates tried to make the save for him but all their efforts proved to be useless.

Bryan was the last man standing for his team and had the upper hand over the Bucks. He delivered the Busaiku Knee to Nicholas Jackson through a chair and went for the pin. Okada however, broke the pin and delivered the Rainmaker to the former WWE star.

The AEW EVPs followed it up with the EVP trigger. Danielson still tried to help Allin but Perry finally landed a running knee and the Scapegoat pinned the wrestling veteran to pick up the victory for his team. The show ended with The New Elite celebrating their victory.

After the show went off air, Bryan Danielson remained in the ring as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. The former World Champion soaked in the moment before removing the AEW shirt he was wearing. Bryan then came out of the ring and accepted the ovation from the fans while standing at the ringside railing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrI2g1z1SQI

Bryan Danielson’s AEW Future

Danielson is in his final year as a full-time performer and he revealed recently that his current AEW contract actually expires before the upcoming All In 2024 event from Wembley Stadium on 25 August.

Though Tony Khan has said that he would like the wrestling legend to stay with his promotion forever in whatever role Bryan chooses for himself after his current deal.

Elsewhere in the Double or Nothing PPV we also saw a big title change and a much-anticipated return of a former AEW Champion. You can check out all about it here.

The Elite Victorious In Anarchy In The Arena At AEW Double or Nothing 2024

Thomas Lowson
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The Elite proved to live up to that moniker at AEW Double or Nothing 2024 after defeating four of AEW’s top names in the Anarchy in the Arena match. 

The quartet of The Young Bucks, AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada, and Jack Perry met FTR, Bryan Danielson, and Darby Allin in the show’s violent main event. The crowd were electric from before the match started, thanks in part to Bryan Danielson using The Final Countdown for his entrance. 

As predicted, the match kicked off with intense action as the eight men took their battle all over the MGM Grand Arena in Paradise, Nevada. During one spot, Allin attempted to down Jack Perry in a bucket of cold water in the parking garage while the Bucks hit Shatter Machine on Dax Harwood but only garnered a two count. 

This was a match where high-action spots became the norm and all eight men were given an opportunity to deliver. In one spot, Perry emerged and walked through Gorilla to grab Tony Khan but the camera cut away. Another spot saw Darby Allin light Perry’s legs on fire before the flames were extinguished by the Bucks. 

The finish of the match saw all but Bryan Danielson taken out and the Elite hit their finishers on the American Dagon. Jack Perry got the win for his team over Danielson and AEW Double or Nothing goes off the air with The Elite standing tall with Perry on their shoulders. 

Swerve Strickland Retains AEW Title Against Christian Cage At Double or Nothing 2024

Thomas Lowson
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The AEW World Championship reign of Swerve Strickland is going strong after retaining the gold against Christian Cage at Double or Nothing 2024. 

In the penultimate match of the night, Strickland and Cage met with Swerve having Prince Nana in his corner while Cage had the might of the Patriarchy. With the numbers advantage in his favor, Christian took the early advantage. Things went from bad to worse for the champion after interference from Nick Wayne resulted in Prince Nana being ejected from the ringside area. 

Despite this, Strickland was able to fight back and withstand all that Cage was able to deliver. The finish of the match saw Swerve hit his patented Swerve Stomp and Swerve’s House to get the win and retain the gold. 

After retaining the title, Strickland had quite the celebration and even shared the screen with boxing legend (and WWE WrestleMania 24 competitor) Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. 

What’s to Come? 

With the AEW World Championship still in his possession, Swerve Strickland will now look ahead to his next title match which will come at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view. On the May 29, edition of AEW Dynamite, a Casino Battle Royale will determine Strickland’s opponent at the upcoming crossover event. At this time, no names have been confirmed for the battle royale. 

AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2024 will on Sunday, June 30, 2024, from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. It will be the third annual Forbidden Door event and once again see AEW talent and stars from New Japan Pro Wrestling face off. Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the news regarding AEW and the Forbidden Door show. 

The Rock Celebrates Achieving Two Guinness World Records for TikTok Account

Thomas Lowson
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Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson continues to impress outside of the ring as the Final Boss of WWE now has two Guinness World Records to his name. 

Johnson shared the news on Instagram in a video to the tune of Also Sprach Zarathustra, better known to wrestling fans as the theme of Ric Flair. In the video, the Brahma Bull shared that he is now the most followed actor on TikTok with 77.4 million accounts (and counting) following the TKO board member. 

This isn’t the only record that Johnson can lay claim to. In the video, he reveals that he is the most followed man from the United States on TikTok. This accolade puts the WWE megastar ahead of the likes of Will Smith, the Jonas Brothers, Lil Nas X and others. In the caption for his video, Johnson reflected on his World Records and had some tips to remain humble in spite of success. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/reel:C7c7JhkPrNe

What’s To Come? 

Johnson is currently working on The Smashing Machine, a biopic about the life and struggles of Mark Kerr, a pioneer in the world of MMA. The film is being produced by Johnson’s Seven Bucks company and will be distributed by A24. 

In the world of wrestling, The Rock is currently absent but has confirmed that he will be returning. During the post-WrestleMania Raw, The Rock confronted Cody Rhodes and vowed to return to confront the WWE Champion. It is unclear when the Final Boss will be back but it has been reported that there are no major plans for Rhodes until Rock and Roman Reigns return to TV. 

How Did MJF’s Return At AEW Double or Nothing 2024 Come About?

Thomas Lowson
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MJF has made his return to AEW programming and big things are in store for the All-Elite promotion’s resident ‘Scumbag.’

The former AEW World Champion shocked fans at the May 26, event to confront his former tag-team partner Adam Cole. MJF then stated that there would be no more friendships for him in wrestling and that he’s not leaving AEW. 

MJF’s Big Return

MJF’s return to AEW had been in the works for some time, Fightful Select reports, with AEW Double or Nothing earmarked as the target date. Preparations had been made in advance to ensure his comeback was executed perfectly. 

Fans will have been surprised to see MJF appear at Double or Nothing given that he had been wearing a brace as of late. This turned out to be a ruse by the former AEW World Champion who did NOT undergo shoulder surgery as some had believed. while MJF did suffer an injury in the run-up to AEW Worlds End, it did not require surgery and the brace was worn to mislead fans about his condition and potential return. 

AEW composer Mikey Ruckus prepared several new themes for MJF, including the orchestral version featured in his promo and a piano version. Significant creative plans are in place for MJF to be involved in a top-tier feud now he’s back. 

Big plans are in place for the returning MJF. 

Nixed Plans

The injury suffered by Adam Cole forced AEW to alter plans fo the pair. At one time a match was planned to take place between the two in 2023 but that obviously didn’t happen. It’s unclear when the former ROH World Tag Team Champions will face off but the fact that Cole got physical during MJF’s return segment is a good sign. 

Mercedes Mone Wins AEW TBS Title At Double Or Nothing In Her Debut Match

Aaron Varble
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The former Sasha Banks made her AEW debut at Double or Nothing and left the MGM Grand Arena as a champion.

Mercedes Mone faced Willow Nightingale for the AEW TBS Title at Double or Nothing. Their match was the first of three main event matches for the night.

After a competitive match, Mercedes executed the Mone Maker and secured a clean win, marking her in-ring debut for AEW and making her the new TBS Champion.

Mercedes and Nightingale entered the match with history. They previously faced off in NJPW, where Mercedes suffered an ankle injury that cost her the NJPW Strong Women’s Title and led to nearly a year on the sidelines.

Mercedes had a notable entrance for her match. A drum line accompanied her to the ring, adding to the moment as they kept pace with her CEO music.

This victory established Mercedes in AEW, setting the stage for her future in the company. Excalibur sang her praises after the win, saying that Mercedes will be tough to beat with a finisher like the Mone Maker.

After the match, Kris Statlander turned on Willow, hit her, and ripped off her friendship bracelet, adding insult to injury. Stokely Hathaway approved of this turn, marking a separation with Nightingale. 

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