Dominik Mysterio is hoping to fix things with Rhea Ripley on the next episode of Raw following the climactic ending to this week’s show.
In the main event, Dominik and Liv Morgan defeated Rey Mysterio & Zelina Vega, marking Dom’s first WWE victory over his father. After the match, it appeared that Dominik was ready to give in to Morgan’s advances until Rhea Ripley returned and confronted her ‘Dom Dom.’
Making Things Right
While Mysterio is well and truly in the ‘doghouse’ the former NXT North American Champion is ready to fight for his (on-screen) relationship with Rhea Ripley. Speaking to ESPN, Mysterio gave his happiness on a scale of 1-10 during the Raw main event.
“I had finally beaten that deadbeat, I was about a ten. I was about a solid 9.5-10. Not even taking Liv into consideration. Just the fact that I had beaten that deadbeat. Once Mami’s music hit and everything happened afterward, I felt like I was at about a two, maybe a one.”
When asked about his current situation with Ripley, Mysterio admitted that it’s been tough to talk to her in recent days, but he’s confident thing will work out.
“I tried my best to communicate with her. She’s kind of avoided me as of now, but she kind of has no choice but to see me on Mondays. So, I’m going to fix things. I’m going to do my best to fix things on Monday.”
What’s to Come?
We don’t know what will be said between the two on next week’s Raw but fans won’t have to wait long. It’s been confirmed that Rhea will open the show and fans will no doubt be intrigued to hear what she has to say in her first promo since vacating the WWE Women’s World Championship.
As for Liv Morgan, she’ll likely continue to try and play Ripley and Dominik against one another. While Liv quickly ran from the ring when Ripley returned, backstage footage suggests that she is happy to see Rhea back (and at odds with Dominik.) With SummerSlam around the corner, some have predicted a Ripley-Morgan title match but that has yet to be confirmed. Until then, fans will remain gripped by what has become one of the most popular love triangles we’ve seen in years.
AEW wrestler Trent has been sidelined with an injury that has kept him from receiving a push that the promotion had in the works for him.
On the July 13, edition of AEW Collision, Trent was taken out by Orange Cassidy who used a monkey wrench to attack his former friend from behind. The pair have been feuding for months and Trent delivered an attack to Chuck Taylor back in May that has raised serious questions about Taylor’s future in the ring.
While Trent has been feuding with OC, the 37-year-old hasn’t competed since Double or Nothing 2024. That’s because Trent has been sidelined with an injury, Fightful Select reports. There had been plans for Trent to receive a push before the injury, but he hasn’t been cleared to compete for quite some time.
AEW’s Injuries
Trent is the latest AEW name confirmed for the injury list, a list that many believe is worryingly long. Other names out of action at this time include Adam Cole, Adam Copeland, Jamie Hayter, and ‘Switchblade’ Jay White.
A lot has been said about AEW talent getting injured and why (in the eyes of some) it seems more prevalent in the promotion compared to WWE. Some have chalked this up to a more hard-hitting, violent style in AEW, while others have suggested that a facility akin to WWE’s Performance Center would lower the rate of injuries.
Oddly enough, those at WWE believe AEW’s high injury rate stems from not wrestling enough. The belief among many is that the rigorous schedule of WWE allows for the bodies of Superstars to callus and grow more immune to bumps and scrapes in the ring. AEW has a more relaxed schedule which may see a wrestler compete once or twice a week, which those in WWE feel allows for too long a gap between matches to properly toughen up.
At the July 13, event, Vaquer defeated current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Ilja Dawn. After the match, Vaquer said that it was a dream come true to be part of WWE.
Vaquer certainly proved to be a hit with the crowd in Mexico City and fans won’t have to wait long before they see her again. WWE’s newest signing is also expected to be at tonight’s WWE live event in Monterrey.
Stephanie Vaquer Joining WWE NXT
Vaquer officially joined WWE this past Wednesday after it was announced she had left CMLL. On Twitter, SVP of Talent Development and Head of NXT Shawn Michaels welcomed Vaquer to the family, which some have taken as a sign she’ll start in WWE on the gold brand.
In a post-match interview at the Mexico City live event, Vaquer told the cameras “NXT, see you soon” seemingly confirming the notion that she’ll be joining the gold brand.
WWE and AEW had been interested in Vaquer following her show-stealing performance at last month’s AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door 2024 pay-per-view. Though she lost to Mercedes Mone at the event, Vaquer was praised for how she won the crowd over, despite them being more familiar with Mone and her work in and out of WWE.
While Vaquer only signed with WWE in recent days, this isn’t her first time being associated with the company. In 2018, Vaquer had a tryout for the promotion but was not signed.
The Motor City Machine Guns have bid goodbye to the independent scene amid growing speculation that the tag team will soon be ‘All-Elite.’
At Prestige Wrestling’s Combat Clash event, Chris Sabin defeated Alex Shelley in the second match of the night. After the match, the pair hugged and waved goodbye to the fans, which many saw as them saying goodbye for good. On commentary, Brian Zane and Jordan Castle asked what’s next for the pair and suggested this may be the last time fans see the Guns in Prestige Wrestling.
Shelley and Sabin became free agents on April 1, after ending their most recent run as part of TNA Wrestling. That same month, it was reported that the pair will be joining AEW and that the two sides were finalizing a deal. While it was said that a deal would not be finalized for a bit, the decision had been made at the time for MCMG to join AEW.
Joining WWE?
Despite this report of signing with AEW, more recent reports have stated that the pair have been in discussions with higher-ups at WWE. Tag Team Champion Tommaso Ciampa further fuelled these rumors by posting a photo of the duo on his Instagram stories.
Shelley himself recently hinted at a move to WWE with an Instagram post that stated “This past week, I celebrated the 4th of July by (maybe) having my final match at @beyondwrestling for awhile.” Some have seen this apparent exit from the indies as a sign the team has joined WWE as AEW would be more inclined to allow talent to work independent dates.
Wherever is next for the Motor City Machine Guns, the duo will continue to excel in the ring as tag-team specialists or as singles talent. Either AEW or WWE would be fortunate to have them on the roster, but it remains to be seen where they’ll go.
Willow Nightingale is a champion once again. The All Elite grappler captured the CMLL Women’s World Championship at NJPW x CMLL FantasticaMania USA on Saturday, July 13 from San Jose, California.
https://x.com/AEW/status/1812319444665807279
Nightingale defeated Viva Van and Lluvia in a 3-way match for the vacant title. The former champion was Stephanie Vaquer, who has since departed CMLL/NJPW and signed with WWE. Vaquer made her WWE debut Saturday night from Mexico City.
Nightingale has held the NJPW Strong Women’s Champion, AEW TBS Champion and won the 2023 Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament. She’s wrestled in Mexico for CMLL several times this year, including a victory in a 3-on-3 match back in March 2024 over a team that included Stephanie Vaquer, Lluvia and Zeuxis.
Legendary wrestling announcer Jim Ross underwent another surgery this week. The 72-year-old from Norman, Oklahoma announced on Saturday that he’d undergone successful wrist surgery.
Wrist surgery successfully done. Healing continues. ?
Ross has battled a series of health issues in recent years, which he’s documented in gory detail on social media. He was recently admitted to the emergency room with difficulty breathing, but went on to call some of the action at the AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
In addition to his work with AEW, Ross hosts the popular Grilling JR podcast.
SEScoops wishes Jim Ross a speedy recovery and good health.
Both AJ Styles and IYO SKY were successful in this week’s matches that took place outside of WWE as the company continues to work with other promotions.
For Styles, he defeated Naomichi Marufuji at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Destination 2024 event. This match marked Styles’ first non-WWE match in eight-and-a-half years and his first time ever competing for NOAH. Styles had quite the entrance that saw him don a black mask; a staple of his time competing in Japan.
— ?????????? ?PRO WRESTLING NOAH (@noah_ghc) July 13, 2024
Despite a valiant effort by Marufuji, a three-time GHC World Champion, it was Styles who got the win with his Styles Clash. After the match, Styles and Marufuji shared a sign of respect in the ring by bowing to each other.
Styles wasn’t the only top WWE name in action outside of the company today. IYO SKY competed in her first non-WWE match since 2017 at the Marigold ‘Summer Destiny’ event. At the show, SKY defeated Utami Hayashishita.
It remains to be seen what companies WWE will work with next, though many feel it is likely under the post-McMahon administration. In the meantime, WWE NXT will continue to welcome TNA talent and don’t be surprised if we see Superstars appearing outside the Sports Entertainment juggernaut.
QT Marshall won a bodybuilding competition on Saturday in Atlanta, GA. The AEW executive announced on social media that he won first place in a ‘classic physique’ event at the 2024 NPC Lenda Murray Atlanta Classic, presented by Wings of Strength.
A year ago I decided to change my lifestyle. Today, I competed in my first (& most likely only) classic physique event today with a first place victory. ?
Marshall has kept an active in-ring schedule this year, competing in Calgary, Alberta, Canada this past week for Ring of Honor and at last month’s AAA TripleMania XXXII pay-per-view from Tijuana, Mexico. He’s the reigning Heavyweight Champion of Florida’s Coastal Championship Wrestling.
Pro wrestling and bodybuilding share a deep-rooted connection, as impressive physiques have been a selling point of the sport since its inception. This natural synergy has led many promoters and wrestlers to embrace bodybuilding, often competing in prestigious competitions and starting bodybuilding federations. Triple H, for instance, began competing in bodybuilding competitions as a teenager. John Cena’s eye-popping physique has been a hallmark of his wrestling persona, earning him features in various bodybuilding and fitness magazines. Trish Stratus transitioned from a successful career as a fitness model to becoming one of WWE’s most celebrated wrestlers.
Alexa Bliss’s journey is particularly inspiring, as she credits bodybuilding with helping her overcome an eating disorder. Her dedication to the sport led her to compete in the Arnold Classic and become a certified pro bodybuilder by the age of 20. Bianca Belair and Montez Ford have both competed in bodybuilding in recent years, showcasing their dedication to maintaining peak physical condition. In November 2023, Montez Ford announced he’d overcome body dysmorphia to win his first bodybuilding competition.
Bodybuilding requires incredible discipline, strength, and determination, but it’s even more impressive for the pro wrestlers who have dabbled in bodybuilding and excelled at the highest level in a sport that demands much more than just looking good on stage. Their ability to combine the physical rigor of bodybuilding with the athleticism, charisma, and performance skills required in pro wrestling that truly sets them apart.
Marigold held its big Summer Destiny 2024 event on Saturday from Ryogoku Sumo Hall. The show was broadcast live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
Here are the results from this 10-match card, featuring the crowning two inaugural Marigold champions, as well as an appearance by WWE Superstar IYO SKY.
Marigold Summer Destiny Results
tWin toWer vs. Victoria Yuzuki & Kizuna Tanaka ended in a 10-minute time-limit draw
Marigold announced the Dream Star Grand Prix. The round-robin tournament will run from August 31 to September 28th
Michiko Omukai announced that her daughter Shinno Omukai has officially joined the Marigold roster
The Marigold World Championship! Continuing tradition handed down by All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling, our version of The Red Belt has been christened The Crimson Red Belt! pic.twitter.com/mrT2jYz33v
The post-Money in the Bank WWE SmackDown show fallout was certainly busy, with several big moments occurring on the programme.
WWE has now uploaded all of the video highlights for the show to their official YouTube channel, which we have compiled in an easy to view format on one page below.
WWE SmackDown Full Highlights This Week
If you didn’t get the chance to watch the show in full, you can see a Full Recap of WWE SmackDown this week via the video below:
WWE SmackDown Segments This Week
Here are all of the individual Video Highlights that WWE has released this week after SmackDown:
As “Ms. Money in the Bank” Tiffany Stratton celebrates her victory, WWE Women’s Champion Bayley questions the alliance between Nia Jax and Stratton.
After WWE Women’s Champion Bayley tries to stop Nia Jax and Tiffany Stratton’s assault on Michin, she gets beaten down herself, leading to The Center of the Universe almost cashing in.
Following their victory at WWE Money in the Bank, Solo Sikoa vows to stay on top and demands acknowledgement.
Queen Nia Jax smites Michin in a royal conquest.
LA Knight is officially granted a contract to face Logan Paul at SummerSlam but needs The Maverick’s signature.
Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews combine to take on Angel and Berto of Legado del Fantasma.
Naomi takes on the up-and-coming Blair Davenport in a fierce contest.
Even after losing to The Bloodline at Money in the Bank, Randy Orton informs Cody Rhodes that he still has his back.
#DIY defend their WWE Tag Team Title against A-Town Down Under.
Despite coming up on the losing end to Nia Jax, Michin states she is not done with the Queen of the Ring Winner, offering her services to Bayley.
The Bloodline dismantle Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, making The American Nightmare watch as they eradicate The Viper.
The Motor City Machine Guns, consisting of Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, became free agents on April 1 after departing from TNA Wrestling.
This immediately sparked rumors of their potential signing with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), but as time has passed without confirmation, attention has turned to another genuine possibility: WWE.
Alex Shelley WWE Interest and Negotiations
Recent reports from the likes of PWN on Discord suggest that Shelley and Sabin have been in discussions with WWE.
Although specific details remain scarce, the interest from WWE appears genuine. WWE superstar Tommaso Ciampa further fuelled these rumors by posting a photo of the duo on his Instagram stories.
Additionally, Alex Shelley himself has hinted at a potential WWE signing through a cryptic Instagram post, which began “This past week, I celebrated the 4th of July by (maybe) having my final match at @beyondwrestling for awhile.”
Social Media Hints and Speculation
Fans were taken aback by Shelley’s Instagram post, which perhaps indicated that he was wrestling his final matches on the independent circuit, at least “for a while.”
This sort of move is, generally, seen as a precursor to signing with WWE, given that AEW would be more inclined to allow talent to work independent dates whilst signed to All Elite.
What Signing the Motor City Machine Guns Means for WWE
Should WWE secure the signatures of the Motor City Machine Guns, it would be a significant acquisition for the tag team divisions on RAW, SmackDown or NXT.
The duo is highly regarded in the wrestling world, known for their fantastic tenure in TNA where they won multiple World Tag Team Championships.
Despite both members being over 40, they continue to perform at a high level. WWE has successfully managed to bring in TNA veteran stars like AJ Styles, suggesting that Shelley and Sabin could also thrive in WWE’s environment.
This recap was originally written on MLW.com by SEScoops’ Dominic DeAngelo.
Major League Wrestling is back in the notorious Coliseum in St. Petersburg, FL and its a stacked card and a main event with high stakes between Matt Riddle and Sami Callihan. We kick it off with a unique clash that features the opening round of The Opera Cup.
MATCH 1 Opera Cup Round 1 Atlantis Jr. vs. Shigeo Okumura
It’s a youngster vs. a veteran in this first round fight and Okumura was ready to unleash some tough love on Atlantis Jr. Okumura slowed the pace down to keep Atlantis underwater. However, the innovative generational talent got Okumura off-his-game with an airplane blue thunder bomb. Although Okumura kicked out Atlantis quickly followed up with a frog splash for the 1-2-3.
WINNER & ADVANCING: Atlantis Jr.
Post-match, both fighters paid one another respect. Can Atlantis go the distance and become the first CMLL star to capture The Opera Cup?
Alex Kane nor does Mr. Thomas plan for that not to happen, but they actually have to go through one another in their own opening round match. If you thought their match between could cause a rift with each other, think again. Both Kane and Thomas know it’s called the BOMAYE “FIGHT” Club!
MATCH 2 Opera Cup Round 1 Tom Lawlor vs. Jake Crist
Lawlor is a former Opera Cup winner and Crist was well-aware of that. The Ohio-born boy wasted no time in taking it to Filthy Tom, not even letting him get to the ring before starting the fight. The two used all elements of the ring in attempt to keep one another down, but it actually took Lawlor a superplex turned to Kimura Lock to cause Crist to pass out.
WINNER & ADVANCING: Tom Lawlor
Post-fight, Lawlor got on the mic to talk trash to Tampa, but up on the screen popped Paul Walter Hauser who issued a major challenge to Lawlor – an MMA cage fight! MSL banned from the building! Lawlor accepted!
It’s Suzuki’s first match as a CONTRA soldier and joining the ranks may have even furthered his sadism. AKIRA, however, was game for the battle. Some intense shots were traded as AKIRA found it hard to shake Suzuki, but the Death Fighter kept bringing it. However, a Gotch Piledriver was good enough for Suzuki to ultimately get the 1-2-3.
WINNER: Minoru Suzuki
Post-fight, there was no respect shown as Minoru and Ikuro Kwon went on to further attack AKIRA devastatingly laying him out with more diabolical ideas in mind. Minoru was going for another Gotch when MLW World Champ Satoshi Kojima ran down to clear the evil out!
A concerned Cesar Duran saunters down to the ring to demand to see who Salina de la Renta’s baby daddy is after she revealed she has a bun in the oven. Well Salina showed up, but she was not without her mind games to her estranged daddy. Before making the reveal, she teased that the father was Bad Dude Tito and EVEN MSL but it was a surprise that made Duran literally sick: one of his own AZTECA henchman. The mysterious man pulled off the mask, revealing a Rudolph Valentino face with an even stronger libido as he and Salina started making out! Duran couldn’t take the discuss and fainted in the ring!
MATCH 4 Three Stages Of Destruction (First Blood + Street Fight + Medical Evacuation) Mads Krule Krugger vs. Matthew Justice (Bill Alfonso)
Matthew Justice was not only ready to roll for this intense battle, but so was Fonzie who certainly has had his issues with CONTRA. Do both bring it to Krugger in the First Blood round of the fight as plenty of plunder is used. Justice gets Krugger off his feet with the indirect help of his own CONTRA soldier as he leapt off the back of a downed man to spear Krugger! Fonzie then tossed Justice a chair with barbed wire as he cracked Krugger HARD with it. Then Justice had some Mr. PPV plans as Fonzie held the chair for Justice to leap all the way across the ring for a Van TERMINATOR!! A few more cracks with the chair had the ref call for the bell noting that Krugger has poured enough crimson!
WINNER of STAGE 1: Matthew Justice
Next stage was a street fight and Justice continued to keep at his business of violence. He even showed his strength by hoisting the monster Mads up for a Death Valley Driver onto a chair! A massive ladder gets set up and Justice has to fight off a CONTRA soldier, allowing Mads to climb up and superplex Matt through a table! Krugger does drape an arm over Matt for the 1-2-3!
WINNER of STAGE 2: Mads Krugger
Someone will now be leaving in an ambulance. The two begin to brawl on the entryway as another ladder is presented. Justice gets Krugger on a table for his own plans of retribution, but the table collapses under the weight of Krugger. That doesn’t stop Justice who still decides to splash on top of Mads! Justice has a gameplan in mind as he gets a dolly. Both he and Fonzie get Krugger on it and push the massive man to the back! Fonzie hydrates Matt as they get Krugger to the ambulance, but when he opens the door to the back Ikuro Kwon is there to spray mist into Matt’s eyes! The fix was in! Kwon and Krugger gang up on Matt, set up a table, light it aflame and powerbomb Justice through it! Krugger tosses Matt in the ambulance and the match is over.
WINNER: Mads Krule Krugger
MATCH 5 MLW World Featherweight Championship Gigi Ray vs. Janai Kai (c)
The Kick Demon Kai aimed to keep the momentum moving for CONTRA against Gigi Ray who definitely showed up ready for battle. Ray received plenty of kicks in this fight, but she had her own share of offense in this fight. However, Kai caught Ray with a roundhouse thrust in the corner and it was good to keep Ray down for the pinfall.
WINNER and STILL MLW World Featherweight Champion: Janai Kai
MATCH 6 Opera Cup Round 1 Bobby Fish vs. KENTA
Fish is ready to unleash “beautiful violence” onto KENTA who is making his Major League debut tonight. KENTA had an off-the-beaten path gameplan against Bobby as he was very disrespectful to the squared circle veteran, basically treating him like a young boy in the ring. Both men delivered in this battle though and Fish got his fair share of strikes in, but KENTA did take the mouthpiece out of Bobby with a GTS and it was good enough to advance in the Opera Cup.
WINNER & ADVANCING: KENTA
MAIN EVENT No Ropes, No Hold Barred Sami Callihan vs. Matt Riddle
The stakes are high in this brutal battle as if Riddle loses, he forgoes his future World Title shot to Callihan, the right he won at Battle Riot VI.
Tampa was all behind The Super King Of Bros and Callihan was less than pleased, getting on the mic to say he’s going to beat Riddle in less than five second. That didn’t happen as Riddle rocked him with a foot to the face. Despite that, Callihan had some nasty plans in mind.
Sami pulled out all types of violent ideas including paper cuts, lemon zest and staple gun tags. He got Riddle right in the foot with one but before that, wrapped Matt’s hair around a barbed wire bat! A broken beer bottle was introduced and its remaining chards became a factor.
The ring was ripped up, boards were broken and literal nuts and bolts became a bed of brutalitiy. Despite all that, Riddle persevered and caused Callihan to submit when he crossfaced Sami with loose ring ropes!
It seems there’s no love lost between Darby Allin and Brody King.
Allin was involved in a hilarious incident during a recent concert. A video clip surfaced on social media in which fellow AEW wrestler Brody King’s band God’s Hate was performing. The House of Black member could be seen on stage when Allin rushed at him. The powerhouse retaliated as he easily picked up Allin and threw him into the crowd. Check out the video clip below:
The rivalry between Darby Allin and Brody King has been well-documented. They have locked horns inside the squared circle a handful of times. Their Coffin Match that transpired on Quake by the Lake edition of AEW Dynamite in 2022 still remains one of the memorable bouts.
Darby Allin’s return
Allin had been away from AEW TV since his last match when he teamed up in a loss with FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) and Bryan Danielson against The Elite (Jack Perry, Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson & Nicholas Jackson) in Anarchy In the Arena Match at AEW Double Or Nothing in May 26.
‘The Daredevil’ made his return on the latest edition of AEW Dynamite and surprised the fans. It seems that he has his sights set on The Elite. During the show, The Elite’s cameraman Brandon Cutler was seen backstage. However, he had half of his face painted in the style of Darby Allin, who attacked him. He eventually took the camera and sent a stern warning to Jack Perry and the EVPs, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson.
"Elite you really think this was over? Dynamite 250, we're just getting started!" – Darby Allin.
The excitement didn’t stop at this week’s SmackDown from Worcester’s DCU Center after the latest episode of the blue brand went off the air.
The July 12, edition of WWE SmackDown saw the road to SummerSlam stretch on with matches set for the Biggest Party of the Summer. Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and Solo Sikoa agreed to a showdown this August in Cleveland. LA Knight also has a contract for a U.S. title match with Logan Paul for SummerSlam but needs Paul to sign the paperwork to make it official.
After WWE SmackDown
The closing moments of this week’s SmackDown saw Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton be laid out by Solo Sikoa and the Bloodline. Rhodes was forced to watch on as Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, and Jacob Fatu delivered a triple powerbomb to Orton through the announce table. After the show, Rhodes, alongside WWE officials (including Jamie Noble and Hurricane Helms) helped Orton to the back.
Fans who stuck around in the DCU Center after SmackDown got to see much more than Orton be helped to the back. In a dark match, Braun Strowman made quick work of honorary Judgment Day member Carlito.
The fans were also treated to a rematch from WWE Backlash: France as World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest took on Jey Uso. Despite a valiant effort by Main Event Jey, it was Priest who once again left with the gold.
— Damian Priest Fansite Media (@DPFansite_Media) July 13, 2024
Priest will now have to turn his attention to SummerSlam where he will defend against WWE King of the Ring GUNTHER. The 37th annual SummerSlam will take place on August 3, from the Cleveland Brown Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
The macabre Wyatt Sicks may not be to the taste of GUNTHER, but the 2024 King of the Ring believes the group is in safe hands given that Triple H is in control.
The group made its long-awaited debut on the June 17, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw by decimating several people at the show, including Chad Gable. During their debut segment, some fans believed that GUNTHER had been attacked backstage by the faction, though that has not been confirmed on TV. Both before and since their debut, the group has been featured in cryptic promos and segments, leaving fans to decipher clues about what’s to come.
Speaking to Gorilla Position, GUNTHER admitted that the Wyatt Sicks is not to his taste, and that goes for much more than just pro wrestling.
“It’s not just wrestling, it’s also movies, like the genre, everything that has to do with spooky stuff or ghosts, or supernatural, that’s not my taste at all. I’m more documentary guy, I love history, and I like movies about a topic or happenings that really happened. So it’s hard to judge when it’s not your taste, but by the reactions of our audience, obviously, there’s a big interest in it.”
While the group is not GUNTHER’s proverbial cup of tea, the King of the Ring is confident that the group will do well with Triple H running creative.
“The big challenge is always getting that in the ring and keep the mysterious aura around it but also making it work. But I haven’t paid too much attention to it right now, how it’s handled, but I would think if there’s somebody that can make it work and have the right dose of the spooky stuff and then the guys still being real [people], I think Hunter will have a good handle on that.”
What’s Next?
Since arriving, the Wyatt Sicks has targeted Chad Gable which many believe is because of how Gable has treated his Alpha Academy allies. In promos, the faction have spoken about false leaders not treating the family right, which many believe is a nod to Gable.
As for GUNTHER, his future is more clear. Due to his King of the Ring win, GUNTHER has earned himself a World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. The Ring General will challenge Damian Priest at the August 3, event in Cleveland, Ohio.
Both The Rock and Logan Paul have their respective ties to politics, particularly in 2024, and a hypothetical was pitched for the two stars to be on the presidential ticket.
On “The Good Guys” podcast, co-hosts Josh Peck and Ben Soffer pitched the notion of ‘The People’s Champion’ becoming ‘The People’s President.’ Not only that, but what if ‘The Final Boss’ appointed WWE United States Champion Logan Paul as his running mate?
“Do you think if The Rock ran with Logan Paul as his running mate, they would win?
“I think that if The Rock ran with Helen Keller as his running mate, he would win.
“If The Rock ran with anybody, he would win. I think Logan would hurt his chances.
“That’s how much of a shoe in The Rock is by himself. Nobody’s ever asked The Rock for his political affiliations. He is separate of party.
“He is just the quintessential perfect human. He’s perfect.”
Someone who doesn’t think The Rock is perfect is Cody Rhodes as the two stars had quite the confrontation during WrestleMania 40. However, whenever it comes to politics The Rock has decided not to take a side this election year. Back in 2020, The Rock ended up endorsing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, but in an interview earlier this year, expressed his disappointment in doing so. A lot of people have been clamoring for the Final Boss to run for the highest office in the land — and he hasn’t ruled it out.
The connections between wrestling and politics are endless. Logan Paul just had 45th US President and WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump on his Impaulsive podcast. Meanwhile, former WWE President Linda McMahon was recently named a top donor to Trump.
WWE is not wasting any time incorporating Stephanie Vaquer into their universe.
All this week, Vaquer left CMLL and was swiftly welcomed by Shawn Michaels into the WWE fold on social media. Now to close out the work week, Vaquer will be put to work in the ring. The company announced that their newest signee will represent the brand south of the border on Saturday and Sunday.
“See Stephanie Vaquer LIVE at #WWEMonterrey and #WWEMexicoCity this weekend!”
Vaquer is getting thrown right into the WWE deep end as also advertised for those live events is Rey Mysterio, Damian Priest, Jey Uso, Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes.
It’s not very often that WWE completely puts their chips behind a new signee right off the bat, but names like Vaquer and Jade Cargill have been their few exceptions and for good reasons.
Both Cargill and Vacquer have their AEW ties, but in different fashions. Cargill was an established talent on their television while Vacquer is fresh off a very memorable match against Mercedes Mone at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.
Speaking in a recent interview Vaquer mentioned how her previous experience with WWE in 2018 mentioned how it helped her out “a lot and it was an experience that I will take with me forever.”
CJ Perry is all done with All Elite Wrestling. The former Lana in WWE had a (very small) cup of coffee in AEW and her time with the company is already over. Speaking with USA Today at the 2024 ESPY Awards, Perry was direct and to-the-point regarding her status.
“[My] time with them has just finished.”
She was quietly released in April 2024, according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful. Perry first appeared in AEW as Miro’s wife, but the former WWE power couple announced their separation shortly afterward.
During her time in WWE, Lana was popular as the heel valet to Miro’s Rusev, but creative changes drastically altered the course for both stars. Lana later took on a role similar to Maxxine Dupri’s current portrayal as a valet turned wrestler.
Before joining AEW, Perry was vocal about the company’s misuse of her husband, Miro. AEW arguably mishandled the debut of “The Bulgarian Brute,” presenting him as an affable babyface rather than capitalizing on his “monster heel” persona.
Both Perry and Miro have been absent from AEW programming for months. Miro has shared on social media that he has been back in his home country of Bulgaria. While Perry was still with AEW, photos surfaced of her attending several events with the current AEW World Champion, Swerve Strickland.
Perry joins several former WWE women now under the AEW banner, including Saraya, Ruby Soho, Mercedes Mone, and Toni Storm. Among these, Saraya and Storm are arguably the company’s top two women’s acts, though Saraya has been miscast. Soho has also faced challenges, though she is currently away from programming due to her pregnancy.
John Cena made a surprise appearance at last month’s Money in the Bank 2024 to announce his retirement. Cena is not an ordinary character and his retirement plan is fittingly unusual.
The 16-time World Champion is going out in a big way and has announced the John Cena WWE retirement tour spanning January-December 2025. He’s planning to make around 40 appearances next year and is still driven to a World Champion. Legends such as Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle have done big retirement angles, but Cena simply wants to wrestle in front of his fans all around the world before he calls it a career.
With those loose parameters, here are 5 things we want to see out of John Cena’s final year with WWE.
1. John Cena Should Put Over Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes is a bona fide superstar, and by most metrics the biggest babyface WWE has built since John Cena. Moreover, while the two had some forgettable matches against each other during The American Nightmare’s first WWE run, the matchup still feels fresh, given fans are now looking at a totally different version of Rhodes as a credible main event act.
Rhodes vs. Cena feels like a dream match, and given that one of each man’s greatest strengths is their promo skills, there’s every opportunity to make this feel like a match for the ages. Most importantly, though, Rhodes has, since returning to WWE, beaten Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, and AJ Styles. There’s every indicator that The Rock may well put him over, and an encounter with Randy Orton is heavily rumored. Cena is one of a small handful of truly meaningful stars whom Rhodes can still beat for the first time, and in so doing close the door on the past generation of WWE stars.
2. John Cena Should Avoid Long Feuds
Long-term storytelling has its merits as WWE has demonstrated with Cody Rhodes vs. The Bloodline, CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre, and Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan to name a few. However, there when time is a limited resource, there can also be a sense that a wrestler is squandering his time when he faces the same opponent over and over again.
As a key example, it was great to see Edge back in a WWE ring from 2020 to 2023. As good as Seth Rollins and Finn Balor each were, though, it was still hard not to feel like the company burned daylight by having The Rated R Superstar feud for so long with these particular rivals when there was a slate of fresher programs he never got to.
Hopefully, John Cena will have some rich storylines to sink his teeth into. Just the same, when he only has one year left, it would be a shame to see him linger too long on just one opponent.
3. John Cena Should Win The World Heavyweight Championship
One of the biggest question marks surrounding John Cena’s last year is whether he’ll break his tie with Ric Flair and win a record seventeenth world championship. There’s a case to be made in either direction.
On one hand, Cena certainly doesn’t need another world title for credibility, other talents would benefit more, and there’s a certain lame-duck quality to a champ fans know plans to retire inside a year.
On the other hand, it’s rare that there’s an opportunity to make history on this level, and Cena is one of the strikingly few legitimate franchise players WWE’s had who would make sense to accomplish this specific feat. While it wouldn’t be wise to mess with a WWE Championship picture that involves Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and The Rock, there is more leeway to squeeze in one last, brief title reign for Cena with the World Heavyweight Championship.
4. John Cena Should Put Over Uncle Howdy
WWE
WWE’s handling of Bray Wyatt was all over the place, but one of this greatest accomplishments was beating John Cena at WrestleMania. Cena won their first feud—including their first ‘Mania match in 2014. Wyatt beat Cena in a polarizing and unforgettable Firefly Fun House match at WrestleMania 36, though, that, in many ways, was the perfect testament to Wyatt’s legacy in WWE.
One of the best ways to pay homage to the late Wyatt and give his brother, Uncle Howdy, a concrete push, would be for Cena to do the honors for this family once more. There’s a variety of ways to do this, but one relatively low stakes proposition that would befit the legacy they’re following in would be to stage one more Firefly Fun House match—or work a comparable gimmick—before Cena moves on.
5. John Cena Should Avoid Wasting Too Much Time On Nostalgia Feuds
From the post-Money in the Bank press conference alone, questions arose about John Cena wrestling The Rock one more time or feuding with CM Punk one more time. There is a certain appeal to revisiting these iconic matchups that fans never thought they’d have the chance to see again–particularly for a setting like WrestleMania 41. On the other hand, there’s also a point at which it’s better to move on to new things.
While one-off matches with Punk, Rock, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, The Miz, or Roman Reigns could be enjoyable nods to their histories together, these are also all matches fans have seen at least twice in high-profile, fully realized situations. With a fresher slate of prospective opponents like Cody Rhodes, Gunther, Drew McIntyre, Bron Breakker, LA Knight, Logan Paul, and quite few others awaiting him, it would be better for Cena to focus his retirement tour on matchups that haven’t already been over-exposed.
Damon Kemp, aka Bobby Steveson, is one of the recent NXT exits and a new report states that there is a current concern amongst the roster at what their future may hold for them.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the exit of Steveson has prompted nervousness amongst the young stars in the Capitol Wrestling Center. While there were some recent exits with NXT ties including Steveson’s brother Gable and Dijak, WWE saying goodbye to Bobby hits a different tone. The former Damon Kemp was overall considered a good worker and had no issues backstage. To many, his exit could be indicative to the roster that they could also be on the chop block and nobody, aside from the prominent names on brand, is safe.
Gable Steveson was let go by WWE this spring due to his lack of development in the ring as well as attitude problems. However, his brother was a featured talent on the show, being apart of Diamond Mind and later aligning with Charlie Dempsey and the No Quarter Catch Crew.
Gable may be the most celebrated Olympic wrestler since Kurt Angle and the 1996 Olympics. Angle was high and above Steveson in the pro wrestling ring, both from a workrate standpoint and a major charisma standpoint.
Bobby Steveson may have plenty of cache in the pro wrestling world despite his WWE leave. The seasoned athlete is only 26 years old and could have opportunities in AEW or TNA.
WWE has announced 15 new WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown live events spanning October-December 2024. Tickets for these these just-announced TV tapings go on sale Friday, July 26 at 10 am local time at Ticketmaster.
The schedule features a mix of major markets, such as New York City, Boston and Philadelphia, along with less-populated secondary markets, shows WWE’s commitment to reach fans across a all regions.
October 2024
Friday, October 4: Nashville, TN – Friday Night SmackDown at the Bridgestone Arena
Friday, October 11: Greenville, SC – Friday Night SmackDown at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Friday, October 18: Columbia, SC – Friday Night SmackDown at the Colonial Life Arena
Monday, October 21: Philadelphia, PA – Monday Night RAW at the Wells Fargo Center
Friday, October 25: Brooklyn, NY – Friday Night SmackDown at the Barclays Center
November 2024
Friday, November 8: Buffalo, NY – Friday Night SmackDown at the KeyBank Center
Monday, November 11: Grand Rapids, MI – Monday Night RAW at the Van Andel Arena
Friday, November 15: Milwaukee, WI – Friday Night SmackDown at the Fiserv Forum
Friday, November 22: Salt Lake City, UT – Friday Night SmackDown at the Delta Center
Monday, November 25: Glendale, AZ – Monday Night RAW at the Desert Diamond Arena
December 2024
Monday, December 2: Everett, WA – Monday Night RAW at the Angel of the Winds Arena
Friday, December 6: Minneapolis, MN – Friday Night SmackDown at the Target Center
Monday, December 9: Wichita, KS – Monday Night RAW at the INTRUST Bank Arena
Friday, December 13: Hartford, CT – Friday Night SmackDown at the XL Center
Monday, December 16: Boston, MA – Monday Night RAW at the TD Garden
CJ Perry’s time as part of All Elite Wrestling has come to an end with the manager being pulled from the company’s official roster.
Speaking to USA TODAY Sports at the 2024 ESPY Awards, Perry said her “time with them has just finished.” Perry made her AEW debut at All Out 2023, coming to the aid of her then-husband Miro. Perry hasn’t appeared at all for AEW in 2024 and now her time with the company is up.
Removed From The AEW Roster
AEW’s roster website no longer has Perry in any of its various categories, confirming her exit from the company. Miro, who similarly has not appeared in any capacity for AEW in 2024, still has his profile on the website.
CJ Perry As A Manager
Unlike her WWE run as Lana, Perry never competed for AEW and instead worked solely as a manager. In the interview, Perry said she’s now eligible to join any wrestling promotion and hopes to continue being a manager.
“I’m really focused on finding talent and cultivating them and helping them become the best wrestler, champion possible. I guess you could say I want to be the Paul Heyman.”
When asked to compare WWE and AEW, Perry said that AEW is much more sport driven and she appreciates how the company means more high-profile jobs in wrestling. With that said, Perry also had plenty of praise for WWE, calling the company “the greatest franchise in the world.”
Mark Henry worked closely with former WWE boss Vince McMahon throughout his Hall of Fame career spanning Ning 1996-2021
McMahon resigned from WWE following accusations from former employee Janel Grant of abuse and trafficking her to other male employees. Henry weighed in on his former boss’s departure, telling veteran wrestling journalist Bill Apter that people in this industry come and go in various ways:
“I believe that there’s seasons for everything and eventually we’re all gonna be away from the business one way or the other. I mean, either by passing away or just the fact you retire or you get fired or you amicably separate or whatever it is, there’s always gonna be an exodus, and I think it was time for there to be that exodus.”
Henry spent a long time in WWE under McMahon’s leadership. He retired following WrestleMania 33 and transitioned into a backstage producer role. Henry then debuted for AEW in May 2021, serving as a coach and a commentator for AEW Rampage. He left AEW in May 2024, stating he couldn’t dedicate 100% of himself to the company. McMahon was supportive of Henry’s decision to leave for AEW, stating, “You know everything you need to know. You go and if you feel like you need to go, (I) don’t necessarily want it, but if you feel like you need to go, then go. I know you’re going to be successful,” as Henry recalled.
McMahon stepped down from his roles in June 2022 after hush money agreements for affairs with former WWE employees came to light. He returned the following year as executive chairman of the newly formed TKO Group Holdings, following the merger of WWE with UFC by Endeavor Group Holdings. But McMahon parted ways with WWE again in January 2024 due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit alleging abuse and trafficking.
McMahon is also facing a federal investigation apart from the Grant lawsuit.
Another star voiced their opinion on Vince McMahon: Ronda Rousey. Speaking to CBS Sports, Rousey said, “Anyone’s better than Vince McMahon” when it comes to running the wrestling promotion.
In professional wrestling, podcasts covering the industry are as common as clotheslines and headlocks. For those brave explorers seeking to venture into the pro wrestling podcast vortex, we here at SEScoops want to make your journey as easy as possible.
Each week, we update you on the Top 25 most-listened-to wrestling podcast episodes, focusing on the Top 5 (including embeds). This feature is based on data from Apple Podcasts compiled by Chartable.
Up Rank
Down Rank
Unchanged
+
–
~
Top 5 Wrestling Podcasts – Apple (July 12th, 2024)
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Calaway, better known to WWE fans as The Undertaker, is not only a most powerful force when it comes to the Darkness, but in the world of Podcasting too! The Deadman debuted his podcast in October 2023, and since then, the show has surged to the top of the boards.
In the latest episode of Six Feet Under with Mark Calaway, The Undertaker brings on former WWE Superstar and Hall of Famer Charles Wright, aka The Godfather. Join the two wrestling legends in a special two-part episode as they walk down memory lane, discussing their nearly four-decade-long friendship and the world of professional wrestling past and present.
2) Insight with Chris Van Vliet | ~
Chris Van Vliet isn’t just one of the most well-respected interviewers in professional wrestling; he’s an internationally recognized media personality. CVV is a four-time Emmy-winning TV Host, YouTuber, and Inc. 500 entrepreneur who’s interviewed everyone from Anne Hathaway to Hornswoggle.
In the latest episode of his hit show, Vliet speaks with WWE Hall of Famer and current NXT Commentator Booker T. The two go on to cover an array of topics, including his WCW tenure, the collaboration between NXT and TNA, his famous feuds, working with his real life on TV, becoming King Booker, and much more!
3) Busted Open | ~
Join Sirius XM’s biggest professional wrestling show, as host Dave LaGreca speaks with a rotating cast of co-hosts, including Bully Ray, Mark Henry, Tommy Dreamer, Thunder Rosa, and Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler). The show covers the latest in professional wrestling news throughout the industry, with special emphasis on WWE, AEW, NJPW, and TNA.
In the latest episode, the crew reacts to the latest episode of AEW Dynamite, including the shocking betrayal of Mariah May on her mentor “Timeless” Toni Storm after winning the Women’s Owen Hart Cup.
4) Jim Cornette Experience |~
Love or hate him, Jim Cornette doesn’t care what you think. His presence in professional wrestling goes back decades, and he is one of the pioneers in producing weekly content on wrestling commentary.
“This week on the Experience, Jim reviews AEW Forbidden Door & The Bloodline attacking Paul Heyman on Smackdown! Also, Jim reviews the final episode of Who Killed WCW?! Plus Jim talks about Mercedes Moné, disco, fast food, AEW’s budget, and much more!”
Surging into the Top 5 for the first time since the inception of this weekly feature comes the Perched On The Top Rope! The program is hosted by Lee, a former writer and avid wrestling collector and fan for over 30 years. He’s joined by Larry Peace, a former MLW referee, and the podcast’s correspondent, Justin.
In the show’s latest edition, the crew made predictions for WWE’s Money In The Bank PLE on July 6th. Check out the show and see close the guys got in their predictions!
Wrestling fans are still reeling from the closing scenes of this week’s AEW Dynamite, which saw Mariah May attack Toni Storm.
May defeated Willow Nightingale to win the 2024 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. She had a tough road to victory, defeating three former AEW champions (Hikaru Shida, Saraya, and Nightingale) en route to winning the tournament. Just moments after winning the tournament, she showed her true colors and left her former idol in a pool of her own blood.
During a conversation with veteran journalist Justin Barrasso for SI.com, May shed light on this shocking situation. Now that she’s secured a title shot at AEW All In: London 2024 and shattered Toni Storm, it’s time to finish the job.
AEW All In: Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
Mariah May gave us a look into her twisted mentality on AEW Dynamite, but her plan for August 25 is also disturbing.
“My mother will be there at All In. She’ll watch me from the front row as I destroy what’s left of Toni Storm.”
– Toni Storm to SI
May told Barrasso that her lifelong dream since she was a little girl was to come to American and wrestle on television. Today, she’s involved in one of wrestling’s most engaging storyline’s and she’ll challenge for the AEW Women’s World title at Wembley Stadium.
More on Mariah May & Toni Storm
AEW has released footage new of Mariah May and Toni Storm from backstage at AEW Dynamite following May’s betrayal:
