AEW wrestler Bryan Danielson could be stepping inside the ring for the last time at this Sunday’s AEW All In London. He has revealed what he plans to do next post-retirement.
‘The American Dragon’ will battle Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship this Sunday. Ahead of the bout, Danielson raised the stakes as he put his career on the line. Should he lose, he will hang up his boots. Danielson is a family man and also focuses on helping his community. The Washington-born wrestler told Bleacher Report that while he is willing to be involved in the pro wrestling business after his retirement, he also wants to give back to the community.
“One of the things that is very important to me is to participate in my community. A lot of times, when you look globally or nationally, you see problems and it’s very hard to affect change. But within your community, you can do a lot. When we travel so much, I’ve been able to do some things here or there. “
The 43-year-old veteran recalled how he once helped a creek restoration in Washington where, several years ago, no salmon were coming back into that stream. He did some physical work as well as helped with funds. He said:
“One of the things I’m proudest of is I helped a creek restoration in Washington where, several years ago, there were no salmon coming back into that stream. And now there are.I went out there three or four times to help actually do the physical work and help fund some of it. Stuff like that is stuff I’m really interested in.”
Bryan Danielson is also hopeful of getting more involved with his kids’ activities. He said:
“Also, my wife got to coach my son’s tee-ball team last year. She had to go and do something, and I got to step in and be a substitute coach for one tee-ball practice and a game. I had so much fun. So, participating in my kids’ lives, participating in my community, being an active member and helping with things locally. Everywhere you look, there are always things that can be improved upon. I’m trying to participate in that where I can.”
This Sunday could be Bryan Danielson’s last match and if that’s the case it will be the culmination of a legendary career of more than two decades. He will be walking into the sunset as one of the greatest wrestlers to grace the ring, having multiple accolades in the top promotions across the world.
Mustafa Ali recently revealed that when WWE released him in September last year, his wife was set to undergo neck surgery.
Ali dropped a snippet of Immersed: Ali vs. Bailey, a documentary that depicts the build-up and aftermath of Ali’s match against Bailey at last month’s TNA Slammiversary 2024. The former WWE wrestler recalled that on the day he was released, he also was informed that his wife required neck surgery. He said:
“People don’t know that the day I got released, I went upstairs and told my wife the news. Two [or] three minutes later, her doctor called her and she was like, ‘You have a broken neck. You need neck surgery.'”
Ali felt that he managed to shut up a lot of critics following his match against Bailey. It’s been almost a year since his wife received the call about the surgery and Ali provided a positive update on his family. He said:
“My wife’s healthy, my babies are healthy. I’m probably not as healthy after wrestling Mike Bailey, but I think tonight I finally shut up a lot of those critics that thought I couldn’t deliver.”
I received a phone call from WWE that I was being let out of my contract. Minutes later, my family got another phone call.
At Slammiversary, Ali dropped the TNA X-Division Championship to Bailey. He also failed to dethrone Nic Nemeth for the TNA World Championship. Soon, reports emerged which stated that Ali had wrapped up his time with TNA.
Recently, House of Glory Wrestling announced that Mustafa Ali is scheduled to challenge Zilla Fatu for the HOG Crown Jewel Championship at HOG Chicago on September 5 at the Logan Square Auditorium.
This will mark the former WWE star’s third appearance in the promotion. In his previous appearances, he defeated Amazing Red and Alex Shelley. Ali is now aiming a triumphant return to the promotion and end Zilla’s title run.
Swerve Strickland is at the top of the wrestling world right now. The journey of this success, however, hasn’t been an easy one and he has had to go through some very tough times to get here.
The AEW World Champion recently had an interview with SHAK Wrestling. He discussed things such as his pairing with Prince Nana, who would win a match between Kendrick Lamar and Drake and more.
During the interview, Strickland was asked about his struggles and what was the lowest point of his career. The AEW star mentioned that it was right before he got the Lucha Underground opportunity:
“Definitely earlier on. Feeling lowest was like probably right before Lucha Underground came around. It was like, ‘oh man, it’s either I continue on this independence or I just got to go to Japan for a year, find a way to do that,’ Which I still didn’t have like a real connection or any type of link to get to that.
Either that or just like I’m gonna have to go full-time active duty in the military. It was like that turning point, and then Lucha Underground came in as an opportunity. It wasn’t even just a contract; it was more of like a tryout for Lucha Underground in dark matches. They didn’t even know yet.”
The Lowest Point
Swerve Strickland started wrestling while he was still serving in the United States Army Reserve. Having to balance his day job with his wrestling aspirations while also having little kids was almost an impossible task for him:
“So that was probably the most turning point because it was like two kids, employment wasn’t really working out as much. Check to check, check to check, like little cash here and there on the independence. But that was probably the lowest point.
[I] didn’t even have a car, I was definitely borrowing cars or getting on the train to get to Philadelphia for CCW events or jumping in carpools and rides and things like that. There’s just a lot going on. Trying to maintain a successful wrestling career and a job consistent employment, almost impossible. Probably harder nowadays than it was 10 years ago. So that’s definitely like my turning point though.”
Fortunately for Swerve, Lucha Underground signed him to a contract in 2014. He quickly became one of the most prominent characters of the show wrestling under the ring name of Killshot.
The Lucha Underground run opened the doors for Strickland’s WWE signing in 2019. When the company let him go while cutting costs during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Swerve joined AEW and the rest is history.
Ronda Rousey says she deeply regrets amplifying a conspiracy theory that the horrific 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting that took the lives of 26 people (including 20 young school children) was a “staged” event.
Rousey took time out of her UFC schedule to give credence to the notion that the US government faked the Sandy Hook school shooting in an effort to enact stricter regulations on firearms, and that the grieving parents were actually crisis actors. Rousey called this demented conspiracy, “extremely interesting” and told her millions of social media followers that one video detailing the conspiracy was a, “must-watch.”
Earlier this week, Rousey participated in a Reddit AMA fan Q&A session that was hijacked by people asking her about Sandy Hook. She’s taken this as an opportunity to finally issue a full-throated apology, 11 years later. She claims to be haunted by the mistake ever since, takes responsibility for her actions and expresses profound remorse for the pain caused.
Rousey urges others not to fall into the trap of conspiracy theories, emphasizing that such beliefs only lead to harm and isolation.
Ronda Rousey’s Sandy Hook Apology Statement
The former WWE & UFC Champion issued the following statement on social media:
“I can’t say how many times I’ve redrafted this apology over the last 11 years. How many times I’ve convinced myself it wasn’t the right time or that I’d be causing even more damage by giving it. But eleven years ago I made the single most regrettable decision of my life.
I watched a Sandy Hook conspiracy video and reposted it on twitter. I didn’t even believe it, but was so horrified at the truth that I was grasping for an alternative fiction to cling to instead. I quickly realized my mistake and took it down, but the damage was done.
By some miracle it seemingly slipped under the media’s radar, I was never asked about it so I never spoke of it again, afraid that calling attention to it would have then opposite of the intended effect – it could increase the views of those conspiracy videos, and selfishly, inform even more people I was ignorant, self absorbed, and tone deaf enough to share one in the first place.
I drafted a thousandth apology to include in my last memoir, but my publisher begged me to take it out, saying it would overshadow everything else and do more harm than good. So I convinced myself that apologizing would just reopen the wound for no other reason than me selfishly trying to make myself feel better, that I would hurt those suffering even more and possibly lead more people down the black hole of conspiracy bullshit by it being brought up again just so I could try to shake the label of being a “Sandy Hook truther”.
But honestly I deserve to be hated, labeled, detested, resented and worse for it. I deserve to lose out on every opportunity, I should have been canceled, I would have deserved it. I still do. I apologize that this came 11 years too late, but to those affected by the Sandy Hook massacre, from the bottom of my heart and depth of my soul I am so so sorry for the hurt I caused.
I can’t even begin to imagine the pain you’ve endured and words cannot describe how thoroughly remorseful and ashamed I am of myself for contributing to it. I’ve regretted it every day of my life since and will continue to do so until the day I die. And to anyone else that’s fallen down the black hole of bullshit. It doesn’t make you edgy, or an independent thinker, you’re not doing your due diligence entertaining every possibility by digesting these conspiracies.
They will only make you feel powerless, afraid, miserable and isolated. You’re doing nothing but hurting others and yourself. Regardless of how many bridges you’ve burned over it, stop digging yourself a deeper hole, don’t get wrapped up in the sunk cost fallacy, no matter how long you’ve gone down the wrong road, you should still turn back.”
WWE Superstar Ivar has undergone Stem Cell Therapy which he hopes will aid with his recovery from an injury that has kept him out for months. On Instagram, Ivar shared some photos from his recent visit to the Rejuvstem Clinic in Cancun.
Ivar has been out of action since May 2024 with his most recent match seeing him lose to Oba Femi at NXT Spring Breakin’ Week Two. On TV, Ivar’s absence was explained as due to an attack by Gallus. The faction attacked him on the May 14, edition of WWE NXT.
This setback has come at a pivotal time in Ivar’s career as his tag-team partner Erik is also out after neck fusion surgery. Rather than simply not use Ivar, as WWE has often done with tag team wrestlers who are on their own, Ivar continued to be used prominently during Erik’s absence. His performances reportedly earned him praise backstage and this singles push even saw him enter the Intercontinental Title picture.
Stem Cells & Wrestling
Several names have turned to the Rejuvstem Clinic for Stem Cell Therapy, including Big E, who has been out of action since March 2022 with a broken neck. MVP underwent treatment earlier this year and said he hopes the treatment will extend his wrestling career.
Shotzi has also taken the trip to Rejuvstem to aid with her recovery from a torn ACL suffered earlier this year as well as years of back pain. WWE Hall of Famers including Rey Mysterio, Kevin Nash, Rob Van Dam, and Adam Copeland have also undergone Stem Cell Therapy.
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.
AEW President Tony Khan has given an update on Ricky Starks, close to five months since the former World Tag Team Champion last competed. Speaking on a media call ahead of AEW All In: London 2024, Khan was asked about Starks who last appeared in a tag-team loss on the March 30, edition of AEW Collision.
Khan called Starks a “great star” of AEW and someone who has had “great matches here.” The AEW President confirmed that Starks remains under contract with AEW and is “a well-regarded wrestler.” Khan stopped short of saying when fans should expect to see the former Tag Team and FTW Champion back in the ring.
Ricky Starks’ AEW Status
Khan’s comments come after multiple reports suggesting that Starks not only has one foot out of the door but is set to join WWE when the time is right. It has been claimed that AEW has been reluctant to use Starks as some within the company believe he is set to leave for WWE and therefore don’t want to invest in him.
The 34-year-old wrestler has reportedly drawn interest from WWE with NXT sources stating they hope to bring him to the gold brand. Starks is a good friend of WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes and was spotted at last year’s Royal Rumble PLE. Rhodes is one of a handful of AEW alum to thrive in WWE, alongside Jade Cargill, NXT Champion Ethan Page, Lexis King, and Shawn Spears.
Ricky Starks is oblivious about the circumstances of why he’s spent most of 2024 on the sidelines in AEW. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Ricky Starks and whether his wrestling future is in AEW or elsewhere.
Former WWE Undisputed Champion Roman Reigns is set to reunite with WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman next month.
Bloomberg Live announced on social media that ‘The Original Tribal Chief’ and his ‘Special Counsel’ will be heading to New York and join Power Players. They will be sharing their future in the business.
It has been announced that the half-day experience will take place at Bloomberg World HQ in New York on Thursday, September 5, in conjunction with the US Open Tennis Championships. It has been advertised that the best in the business of sports will “engage in forward-thinking conversations, forge strategic partnerships, and gain insights that will empower you to stay ahead of the game.”
Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman joined forces back in 2020 and established dominance for the next four years. With Heyman by his side, Reigns elevated his career and had a historic World title reign for 1,300+ days. Reigns had also inducted Paul Heyman into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame.
However, they haven’t been seen together ever since ‘The Head of The Table’ dropped his title to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40. Roman Reigns went on a hiatus but Heyman was featured on the shows with the newly formed Bloodline faction under Solo Sikoa, who now claims to be ‘The Tribal Chief’. Sikoa even attacked and dismissed Paul Heyman.
At this year’s SummerSlam, Roman Reigns finally returned to make it clear that he is ‘The Original Tribal Chief.’ He laid out Solo Sikoa alongside the other members of the Bloodline. However, weeks forward, the Bloodline turned the tables to take out Roman Reigns with a brutal attack.
WWE’s resident A-Lister The Miz has once again shown off his acting chops, this time in the latest trailer for Part 3 of That ’90s Show. The Miz portrays a fictional wrestler called ‘Party Animal’ for an episode set in 1996, PW Insider reports. Given the timing of this particular episode, the show uses relevant posters of the time period, and includes references to the WWF ‘Winged Eagle’ title which was also used at the time. The episode also references Goldust, who had debuted in the WWF the prior year and who today is competing for AEW and Ring of Honor as Dustin Rhodes.
The Miz is no stranger to acting, which has been a key component of his WWE persona since 2012. From 2013 to 2018 he starred in four The Marine films as the series lead Jake Carter. His most recent film role came as part of 2020’s The Main Event where he cameod as himself.
Wrestling On That ’70s Show
As its name suggests, That ’90s Show is a spin-off from That ’70s Show, which ironically aired during the 1990s. The original show had its own wrestling guests stars as part of Season 1, Episode 15 ‘That Wrestling Show.’ Before making it huge in Hollywood, a young The Rock portrayed his father Rocky Johnson, who tangled with an unnamed grappler played by Ken Shamrock. This episode also features an uncredited appearance from The Hardy Boyz who wrestle one another.
With AEW All In: London just days away, Will Ospreay has called for unity among the roster following reports of backstage tension between MJF and Britt Baker. Speaking with the New York Post ahead of Sunday’s AEW All In: London pay-per-view, Ospreay was initially reluctant to speak on the matter as he didn’t know what had been reported. With that in mind, Ospreay said the issue between MJF and Baker had been “completely blown out of proportion.”
“I’m fully aware people don’t like each other backstage. I know there are people backstage that I don’t like. My whole thing is that going forward we all need to be a team. We all need to look after one another.”
What Happened?
The incident in question reportedly took place on Wednesday, July 17, and included MJF’s girlfriend and AEW broadcaster Alicia Atout. It’s claimed that after Baker ‘buried’ MJF’s hour-long match with Will Ospreay, she called Atout a “stupid f***ing b**ch” and claimed she’d have the interviewer kicked out of the locker room.
MJF, it is alleged, confronted Baker in a common area and reportedly punched a wall at some point, though MJF has said things were misreported. On-screen, Baker’s suspension was explained with a kayfabe suspension delivered by the Young Bucks at the request of Mercedes Mone. Baker and Mone had a (planned) altercation at San Diego Comic-Con.
AEW All In: London 2024 will take place from Wembley Stadium in London, England on August 25, and will be the second All-Elite event hosted in the venue. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest from the event, including breaking news and live reports.
Fans of CM Punk will get to see the ‘Best in the World’ perform out of the ring in an upcoming comedy film titled ‘Let’s Start A Cult.’ The film will premiere on October 25, and features an ensemble cast including Stavros Halkias, Wes Haney, Eric Rahill, Katy Fullan, and Daniel Simonsen, with special appearances from Joe Pera, Ethan Suplee, and Tom Papa. Let’s Start A Cult is directed by Ben Kitnick.
A description of the film is as follows:
The story follows an obnoxious loser who, having missed out on his cult’s long-awaited ritual suicide, teams up with his former, now-discredited messiah to rebuild their doomsday commune. As they travel through middle America, this bickering duo recruits a military wannabe, a mentally unstable mom, and a mysterious foreign hitchhiker into their cult. Together, this family of outcasts must decide whether to fulfill their supposed transcendent destiny or find that life might be worth living after all.
This is the latest notable project for CM Punk who is no stranger to roles outside of the ring. Punk has previously appeared in television series such as Mayans MC and Heels, and has starred in independent films including The Girl on the Third Floor and Jakob’s Wife. Punk signed with Paradigm Talent Agency in June and is one of several WWE Superstars, including his rival Drew McIntyre, to do so.
What’s Next for CM Punk?
On WWE programming, Punk is in the midst of his feud with Drew McIntyre, and the two will collide at Bash in Berlin in a Strap Match. Punk competed in the stipulation against Umaga at Extreme Rules 2009 while McIntyre faced Karrion Kross in a strap match at Extreme Rules 2022. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on CM Punk in and out of the ring.
Former WWE Superstar Ricochet is expected to debut for AEW imminently. The former Intercontinental champion was abruptly written off television in June. By the end of the month, it was rumored that he and WWE failed to agree on a new contract, and he’d soon be a free agent for the first time since 2018. Amid speculation about his next move, AEW President Tony Khan added to the hype by praising Ricochet as, “one of the most exciting stars in all of wrestling.”
Ricochet has reached a multi-year agreement to join All Elite Wrestling, according to Fightful Select. The 35-year-old high-flyer is on his way to London, and is expected to have a role at Sunday’s AEW All In pay-per-view.
Wembley Stadium is a grand stage to debut, and the Casino Gauntlet match just got even more interesting, as it often includes surprise appearances. Ricochet lost the WWE Speed championship to Andrade in his final match.
Stay tuned to SEScoops this weekend for our coverage of AEW All In 2024.
Hulk Hogan is one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling history, yet, his fame extends beyond the ring, very often dipping into realms of controversy that have impacted his public image.
Here we delve into some of the most infamous controversies associated with Hogan, including the Belzer lawsuit, the Gawker case, the leaked tape scandal, and a peculiar connection to Kamala Harris.
The Belzer Lawsuit: A Wrestling Move Gone Wrong
In 1985, Hulk Hogan appeared on the television show “Hot Properties,” hosted by Richard Belzer. The appearance was intended to promote the first-ever WrestleMania, but it quickly spiraled into an infamous incident.
During the show, Belzer asked Hogan to demonstrate a wrestling move. Complying, Hogan applied a front chin-lock, a common wrestling maneuver, on Belzer. However, the move rendered Belzer unconscious, causing him to collapse onto the studio floor. To make matters worse, Belzer’s head hit the floor, resulting in a laceration that required medical attention.
Belzer sued Hogan and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), seeking damages for the incident. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court, with Belzer reportedly receiving $5 million according to Hogan.
This controversy highlighted the dangers of blurring the lines between wrestling entertainment and real life, marking one of the earliest public scandals in Hogan’s career.
The Gawker Case: A Pioneering Privacy Battle
One of Hulk Hogan’s most high-profile controversies was his legal battle against Gawker Media.
In 2012, Gawker published a secretly recorded sex tape featuring Hogan and Heather Clem, the wife of his then-best friend, radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge. The tape quickly went viral, causing significant damage to Hogan’s reputation.
Hogan sued Gawker for invasion of privacy, leading to a landmark trial. In 2016, the court ruled in Hogan’s favor, awarding him $140 million in damages. The lawsuit effectively bankrupted Gawker, leading to the media company’s shutdown.
This case was not only significant for Hogan but also set a precedent in privacy law, highlighting the legal risks of publishing private content without consent.
The Leaked Tape Scandal: Racial Slurs and Public Fallout
The fallout from the Gawker tape wasn’t just about privacy—it also revealed a darker side of Hogan’s character.
In the leaked video, Hogan was heard making racially charged comments, including the use of the N-word. The revelation of these remarks caused widespread outrage, leading to Hogan’s immediate firing from WWE and the removal of his profile from their website.
The scandal tarnished Hogan’s legacy, with many fans and fellow wrestlers expressing their disappointment.
Hogan later apologized for his remarks, attributing them to a low point in his life. Despite his efforts to rebuild his image, the incident remains a significant blemish on his career.
Kamala Harris: Controversial Comments
Hulk Hogan’s connection to Kamala Harris, the current Vice President of the United States, stems from a controversial incident that occurred in 2024. During a promotional event for his new beer, Hogan made headlines for making inflammatory comments about Harris. In a video obtained by TMZ, Hogan jokingly asked a crowd if they wanted him to “body slam Kamala Harris” and “drop the leg” on her, referencing his iconic wrestling moves.
The remarks, made in front of a fired-up crowd, were not only provocative but also crossed into racially insensitive territory. Hogan questioned Harris’s racial identity, making comments about her Indian heritage and using outdated stereotypes. He referred to Harris as a “chameleon” and questioned whether she was truly Indian, which drew significant backlash.
Hogan’s comments came at a time of heightened political tension in the U.S., with growing calls to curb violent political rhetoric. His remarks were widely condemned, especially given the context of recent political violence and the ongoing divisiveness in American politics.
Hogan later tried to downplay the incident by blaming his comments on the beer he was promoting, but the damage to his public image was already done.
WWE Superstar Bayley recently shared with fans who her ideal male tag team partner would be. During her appearance at Fanatics Fest NYC, Bayley expressed her admiration for a WWE legend who has inspired countless wrestlers and captivated audiences worldwide.
Bayley’s Choice: Rey Mysterio
When asked about her dream mixed tag team partner, Bayley didn’t hesitate to name Rey Mysterio as her top choice.
Mysterio has been a significant influence in the wrestling industry and Bayley mentioned that while she has teamed up with Seth Rollins in the past, she has her eyes set on Mysterio if she were to ever be part of a Mixed Tag Team match again.
“I have teamed with Seth before. That was great. Honestly, I’m going to have to say Rey Mysterio. He’ll do all the work, and I’ll just throw powerbombs out. 619 straight into a powerbomb. Sounds good to me.”
Why Rey Mysterio?
Rey Mysterio is a name that resonates with wrestling fans of all ages. His career spans decades, and his high-flying ability, even this long into his career, has made him a fan favourite, so its no doubt that Bayley would pick someone of his stature.
Mixed Match Challenge is not something that is likely to come back, but seeing BayRey would be pretty cool.
WWE Hall of Famer Dory Funk Jr. will pay tribute to his late brother Terry in an upcoming match, and will also make history in the process. Funk will team with Osamu Nishimura in a tag-team match on August 24, to take on Atsushi Onita & Raijin Yaguchi. The match has been sanctioned by PWF President Yoshio Osumi and will be part of the official memorial show for Terry Funk who died one year ago tomorrow.
By competing at the event, Funk will become the oldest wrestler to compete in a match at 83 years of age. Funk made his in-ring debut in 1963, the same year that Buddy Rogers became the very first WWE World Champion. He is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and boasts the second-longest individual reign (behind Lou Thesz’s first reign that lasted 2,300 days.) For his efforts in wrestling, Dory, alongside his brother Terry and their late father Dory Sr. was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.
H/T to @PuroresuFlow for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.
This match will be Funk’s first bout in close to six years. He last stepped in the ring for the Tokyo Gurentai Tokyo Dream event in November 2018. That match saw him face Nishimura to a time-limit draw. His most recent victory came in an eight-man tag for All-Japan the previous year.
Funk, like his brother and father, mastered the art of mat wrestling during his heyday and is ready to lace up his boots one more time for his brother who died last August. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on the legendary Funk wrestling family.
As John Cena approaches his WWE retirement, many fans are speculating that his farewell will involve passing the torch to a new generation of wrestlers. However, TNA World Champion Nic Nemeth believes that this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case.
Nic Nemeth’s Perspective on Cena’s Retirement
During a recent episode of the Busted Open Radio show, Nic Nemeth shared his views on Cena’s upcoming retirement, set to take place in 2025 after a series of around 30-40 appearances.
While it’s usually common for a retiring legend to pass the torch to an emerging talent, Nemeth argues that Cena’s departure doesn’t have to follow this tradition.
“Not everything has to be a pass the torch kind of thing,” Nemeth said, emphasizing that Cena’s retirement doesn’t need to involve a match against a rising star like Bron Breakker or another NXT newcomer.
The Case for Cena vs. Orton
Instead of introducing a fresh face to WWE fans, Nemeth suggests that Cena’s final chapter could revolve around his storied rivalry with Randy Orton.
The idea of Cena facing Orton one last time is compelling, as it would bring a sense of closure to one of WWE’s most iconic rivalries.
“We all know they were rivals. We all know [we want to] see it,” Nemeth commented. He added that seeing Cena and Orton face-to-face in the ring during Cena’s final moments would be a fitting end for both superstars, especially if it marks the last match for either of them.
A Different Kind of Farewell
As WWE prepares for Cena’s retirement, starting with his appearance on the first episode of RAW on Netflix in January 2025, fans eagerly anticipate how his farewell will unfold.
Whether Cena passes the torch or not, Nemeth’s perspective opens the door for a more nostalgic and memorable conclusion to Cena’s legendary career.
Mandy Rose, the former WWE NXT Women’s Champion, is making a highly anticipated return to the world of professional wrestling. The announcement of her return has generated significant buzz, especially among her fans who have eagerly awaited her comeback.
Return to the Ring at Black Label Pro
Mandy Rose has been confirmed for Black Label Pro’s upcoming event, “Crowning Glory,” set to take place on September 4, 2024.
This event is part of a special “Wrestling Combine” where athletes will compete in a series of contests to determine the best overall performer.
Rose’s involvement adds star power to an already stacked lineup, featuring several well-known wrestling talents.
A Star-Studded Lineup
In addition to Mandy Rose, the event will also feature appearances by several other notable wrestling figures.
This includes Ash by Elegance (formerly known as Dana Brooke), Mike Rallis (formerly known as Riddick Moss), Jordynne Grace, Parker Boudreaux, Xia Zhao (formerly known as Xia Li), and Moose.
The Wrestling Combine will showcase these athletes in various challenges designed to highlight their athletic prowess and in-ring skills.
What This Means for Mandy Rose’s Career
Mandy Rose’s return to professional wrestling marks a significant moment in her career. After her departure from WWE, Rose explored opportunities outside the wrestling world.
However, her return could indicate a renewed focus on her wrestling career, potentially opening doors for future appearances in other major promotions.
Mariah May was encouraged to stop with public displays of affection with Mina Shirakawa and Toni Storm by AEW, according to the British wrestler herself. Speaking on the Wrestling with Freddie podcast, May recalled the backstage reaction to her locking lips with her long-time tag-team partner Shirakawa during an episode of AEW programming.
“It was not pitched. We just did it. Mina and I are extremely close. We’ve always been very close in Stardom. We just did it. The next time around, they were like, ‘Hey, can you guys stop kissing?’”
May blamed the request on an “archaic view” of things, adding that it’s her choice who she kisses and she would say if she was not comfortable. The number-one contender for the AEW Women’s World Champion added that her kissing Mina earned gripes from “the usual suspects.”
“‘Oh my God. This is setting women’s wrestling back so much.’It’s like, first of all, no one made us do it. We chose to do it... Like I said, if I don’t want to do something, I won’t.”
May has had little reason to kiss anyone ever since turning on Storm following her win in the Owen Hart Women’s Foundation Tournament. The former allies will face off at AEW All In: London 2024 this Sunday inside Wembley Stadium. The show will be a homecoming for May though she has yet to compete inside Wembley. The match will be Storm’s second match in the Stadium after competing at last year’s All In: London pay-per-view.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on AEW All In: London 2024 including breaking news and match results from this weekend’s event.
The future of the Anoa’i wrestling dynasty appears in good hands as Thamiko Fatu, the son of WWE legend Rikishi has been impressing in the ring. This week, Fatu has been going viral on social media as fans have been seeing just a taste of what the powerhouse can do in the ring.
Fatu’s display of power has quickly led to the young wrestler going viral and fans are already seeing a spot in WWE, and potentially in The Bloodline, in his future.
— The Wrestling Old Head (@Wrestleoldhead) July 15, 2024
Thamiko fatu needs to make his way to wwe I would love to see another son of rikishi in the wwe just imagine having all 4 of the fatu bothers in wwe now that be crazy
— Karins Simanis aka Mimmon???? (@KarinsSimanis) August 21, 2024
Meet Thamiko Fatu
Thamiko Fatu hails from the legendary Anoa’i family, a wrestling dynasty that has produced some of the most iconic figures in sports entertainment, including The Rock, Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, Yokozuna, and the Usos. Thamiko is one of the sons of Rikishi, making him a brother of Sikoa and the Usos and a cousin of the Original Tribal Chief.
Thamiko, real name Jeremiah, began his wrestling journey in 2023, and his ring name translates to funerary in Greek. Despite being a relative newcomer to the squared circle, Thamiko has already competed for Oasis Pro where he has dominated the competition.
Thamiko is also on Instagram, where he has already amassed over 5,000 followers. He also has merchandise sold through his father’s website, though his shirt is currently not available. Those interested in booking Fatu can also get in touch through Rikishi’s website.
While it’s clear that Thamiko Fatu is still in the early stages of his career, the impact he’s already made has brought a lot of attention to him. With the Bloodline storyline seeing new members added this year, don’t count out Thamiko Fatu joining his family on WWE programming one day.
A special edition of AEW Collision is set to take place Saturday night, August 24, 2024, live on TNT at 8pm ET from the Utilita Arena Cardiff in Cardiff, Wales.
The promotion made its debut in Wales with this week’s AEW Dynamite and This Saturday’s AEW Collision is stacked with some exciting matches ahead of Sunday’s AEW All In 2024 pay-per-view.
The following matches are set for Saturday’s AEW Collision, airing the night before AEW All In from Wembley Stadium:
HOOK vs Big Bill
Katsuyori Shibata vs Jay Lethal
Willow Nightingale vs Harley Cameron
Mixed Tag Team Match: Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway vs Nina Samuels & Kid Lykos II
Jeff Jarrett vs Ariya Daivari
Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly & Mark Briscoe vs The Undisputed Kingdom
Wild Card match for the final spot in London Ladders match: PAC, Claudio Castagnoli, & Wheeler Yuta vs Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) & Lio Rush
Stay tuned to SEScoops for our continued coverage of AEW Collision and you can also check out our AEW News section for the latest news and updates.
Former WWE commentator Mauro Ranallo will don the headset once more as part of Scott D’Amore’s new Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling promotion. On the Insight podcast, D’Amore tells Chris Van Vliet that Ranallo will be part of the promotion’s broadcast team.
“Mauro Ranallo has agreed to be the voice of Maple Leaf Pro. He’s the man. And Mauro has got a passion for wrestling… He loves wrestling. He’s the best. You turned on Showtime for any big boxing fight, or you turned on to watch a lot of the big MMA fights with Pride and everything, Mauro is that voice.”
Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s debut events will take place in Windsor, Ontario on October 19-20, and will be streamed live on TrillerTV. Tickets for the two events will go on sale this coming Monday, August 26, at 10 EST.
Mauro Ranallo and Maple Leaf Pro
Ranallo is highly respected in the world of combat sports commentary so his involvement is a huge score for Maple Leaf Pro. The promotion is having no trouble attracting notable talent, including Raj Dhesi, Josh Alexander, Gisele Shaw, Konosuke Takeshita, Trevor Lee, KUSHIDA, and Kylie Rae.
His role with Maple Leaf Pro will mark his first time commentating on professional wrestling since TNA (then IMPACT Wrestling) Rebellion 2021. At the event, Ranallo called the Winner-Takes-All main event between IMPACT World Champion Rich Swanna and AEW World Champion Kenny Omega which Omega won.
Ranallo had previously been with WWE but parted ways with the company in 2017. While he’d allegedly been the subject of bullying by JBL, a statement released by Mauro at the time said his departure was nothing to do with the former WWE World Champion.
Costco Guys have seemingly dropped hints about a potential appearance at the upcoming All Out pay-per-view.
AJ from the Costco Guys spoke on Barstool’s YAK and said they are in discussions with a major pro wrestling promotion about making an appearance in Chicago in early September. He could be indicating an appearance for AEW. It’s worth noting that AEW is heading to Chicago for Collision on September 6 and the All Out pay-per-view on September 7. Here is what AJ said:
“We are working something out with a major wrestling organisation and I think that is almost final. If that does happen, we’ll be in Chicago in early September.”
Brandon Walker noted that would be for an AEW event. However, AJ added while laughing: “I didn’t say that.”
The Costco Guys – AJ and Big Justice are a Florida-based father-son duo and they gained popularity on TikTok for their love of Costco. They often rate things ‘Boom’ or ‘Doom’ along with The Rizzler. The Costco Guys have a staggering 1.6 million followers on TikTok.
Though AEW All Out pay-per-view is a few weeks away, only one match has been announced for the show so far. Will Ospreay and MJF are set to collide for AEW American Championship at All In. Pac is set to challenge the winner of that match at All Out.
AEW American Championship was originally known as the AEW All-Atlantic Championship and Pac was the inaugural champion. He held the gold for 108 days. The title was eventually rebranded the AEW International Championship in March 2023. Now, MJF has again renamed it to be AEW American Championship.
AEW All Out 2024 will emanate from Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on September 7. It will mark the sixth installment of the pay-per-view.
TNA Wrestling’s Rich Swann has entered a rehab program to combat substance abuse following being arrested and charged with public intoxication. Swann was arrested on June 8 in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and charged with disorderly public intoxication and causing a disturbance, a misdemeanor offense.
According to a public arrest report filed with Seminole County and obtained by POST Wrestling, Swann attempted to forcefully enter an apartment door at approximately 9:50 p.m. This was not Swann’s residence as made clear by the resident in a police report filed by by Officer Zane Hoskins of the Altamonte Springs Police Department.
“My son started yelling for me to come to the door. I came out of the bathroom, heard the banging, and went to my room to grab my handgun. I announced that I had a gun and told whoever was banging to leave.”
Swann allegedly began shouting, “This is my house” before the resident opened the door and displayed his firearm. The address he tried to enter is a short walk from the wrestler’s actual residence.
Later in the night, a second incident occurred when a woman in the neighborhood contacted police. According to the report, the woman had gone to her son’s apartment to collect Amazon packages when she encountered Swann. The wrestler began following her, but when she asked him to stop, he said “what do you mean, stop following you?”
“I started running, and he followed me up to my door, but I managed to get inside and lock it before he could enter.”
Officers located Swann and took him into custody. When Swann was taken to the first apartment, the resident confirmed via Facetime that this was the man who tried to force his way inside.
Officer Hoskins notes in his police report that Swann was incoherent and appeared intoxicated. When Hoskins asked the glassy-eyed Swann if he’d been drinking, he said he had drank “A lot” and that he began around 7 p.m.
Swann was transported to the John E. Polk Correction Facility in Sanford, Fla., about 10 miles from where he was arrested. He was released the next day on a $250 bond. On an affidavit, Swann appeared to indicate he was homeless, account to court records, though other records suggest he has a home address. He is being represented by a private attorney from Orlando’s Joshi law firm. A pre-trial conference for Swann’s case was scheduled for Wednesday in Sanford.
Despite being arrested on June 8, Swann competed at TNA Against All Odds on June 14 and the subsequent TV tapings. TNA first became aware of these incidents when POST Wrestling reached out for comment, their report states. In a statement, TNA said:
“TNA Wrestling takes any and all charges against its performers seriously. Rich Swann is responsible for his own personal actions.”
Swann has informed TNA that he is voluntarily entering into a substance abuse rehabilitation program. TNA Wrestling has suspended Swann, pending a complete investigation into the incidents.
Rich Swann’s Previous Issues
Swann was charged with the same offense in September 2022 after he allegedly caused a disturbance while intoxicated at his apartment complex. In 2017, Swann was arrested in Gainesville, Florida and charged with false imprisonment, a felony, as well as simple domestic battery, which is a misdemeanor. Those charges were dropped due to insufficient evidence, but Storm was released from WWE two months later.
Former AEW World Champion Hangman Page never fails to express his hatred towards the current champion, Swerve Strickland. ‘Hangman’ believes that his arch-rival should have never won the title and he feels that their beef could be settled if he could erase Swerve’s name from the history books.
Page recently spoke to Paste Magazine about a number of topics including their personal feud with Strickland. During the interview, Page emphasized that his persona is inseparable from his real-life identity. He described the trauma of Strickland breaking into his home, leading him and his family to leave the house they cherished. Page has now vowed to erase Strickland’s name from wrestling history, saying:
“He should never have won it. He shouldn’t have it today. He shouldn’t have it tomorrow. It should be mine. If it were mine, I would do everything that I could to erase his name from history of all wrestling from this planet. What would “settle it” would be that, for me to erase him from history altogether, to let his name disappear into the wind and let him be nothing, nothing to anyone else. To solve it would be for him to drop to his knees in front of me and beg for my mercy. On his knees, begging for my mercy. I would never give it, but he should beg for it.”
Hangman Page’s crowning achievement
Page expressed a deep personal connection to the AEW World Championship. It’s been a little over a couple of years since he dropped. He labeled it “one of the crowning achievements” of his life. He feels the title has strayed from its true meaning since he lost it.
Bryan Danielson will challenge Swerve Strickland for the title at this weekend’s AEW All In: London. ‘The American Dragon’ has put his career on the line for the title match. When asked if Danielson’s potential victory could restore the meaning, Hangman said:
“He is a fantastic wrestler. He’s one of the best to have ever lived, and admittedly, he doesn’t have long left, and he’s okay with the idea of this being it. I just want to draw a stark contrast to maybe how he feels about that championship and how I feel about it. I’m not okay never holding it again. I’m not okay with it in the hands of the person that it’s in. I would not be okay walking away from this in the state that things are in right now. And if that’s how [Danielson] feels about it, about the championship, about the World champion, I can’t say that I have any respect at all for that.”
Hangman Page acknowledged the connection he’s built with fans but he doesn’t want their support if they don’t actively oppose Strickland. He also harbors resentment toward the Elite and held them responsible for his suspension, which allowed Strickland to win the championship. He said:
“…maybe I created some kind of a connection, especially in the beginning of AEW, with certain fans, you know. I don’t know. And if they are with me on this ride that I am on now, then I do appreciate it. But unless they’re willing to attack [Swerve] in the parking lot, unless they’re willing to call out what he did for what it is, and not acknowledge him at all as a champion, then I don’t want their support.”
He added:
“Had it not been for them, I would have never been suspended. They could have fought that. I stuck up for them. So many times they stuck up for me too, but this last time they could have stuck up for me and I would have not been suspended. [Swerve] would have never won the World championship and right now, to me, that is unforgivable. I don’t know that it can be forgiven. But I’m not really worried about [the Elite] right now.”
On last night’s AEW Dynamite Page announced that he will enter the Casino gauntlet match at this Sunday’s All In. As he begins his quest to reclaim his title, winning the match will earn him a AEW World title shot in the future.
WWE icon John Cena is no stranger to rap, and has thrown out his picks for the four greatest artists worthy of Mount Rushmore. Speaking to Club Shay Shay, Cena recognized that his picks would be controversial and that “everyone has their bias.” Cena’s first three picks were Nas, JAY-Z and Rakim.
“But I was brought up in East Coast, boom bap. I love wordplay, I love poetry. It’s what I based my [WWE] character on.”
Cena’s fourth and final pick for the Mount Rushmore of rappers was Eminem, an artist that the 16-time WWE World Champion has been a fan of since the very start. Speaking to Esquire in 2022, Cena called the real Slim Shady ” one of the most gifted, prolific poets I’ve ever had the chance to listen to.” Cena added that Eminem would “put me to shame” if their music ever met.
Before he was a squeaky-clean babyface headlining PLEs, Cena’s wrestling career was saved by his love of rap. The story goes that Cena was set to be released by WWE in 2002 before he began delivering some freestyle barbs on a tour bus. After Stephanie McMahon caught wind of Cena’s skills, his character on TV was changed from a generic good guy to a trash-talking white rapper, and the rest is history.
Cena has broken out his doctorate in Thuganomics a handful of times in the years since leaving his rapper character behind. With Cena’s upcoming retirement tour approaching, don’t count out Cena resurrecting this character that helped make him a WWE icon.
