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Tables, Ladders, Chairs & The Undertaker?! Wrestling Gender Reveal Match Goes Viral

Thomas Lowson
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A unique gender reveal party recently went viral as two wrestlers fought to reveal the sex of a couple in attendance at the match. 

The match starts with two wrestlers, donned in pink and blue and despite the size disadvantage, blue dominates the early portion of the match. Pink turns the tide by introducing a table and the two competitors would introduce a steel chair and a ladder shortly after. 

A glass bottle to the head of Pink saved Blue from being pinned, and he’d muster an Undertaker-inspired comeback to get the win. After the match, the expecting couple celebrated that they were having a boy. While officials tried to stretcher Pink away, his weight proved to be too much for them. 

You can check out the hysterical gender reveal match below. 

When Wrestling Goes Viral

This gender reveal isn’t the first time that the world of professional wrestling has gone viral outside of a traditional wrestling promotion. In March, a fan of WWE arrived to his own wedding with a Bloodline-inspired entrance, in which they served as the Roman Reigns of the group. Reigns would even react on Twitter to say that the union had been “acknowledged.”

Showing your love for wrestling on your big day has happened multiple times over the years. During a wedding a few years ago, the bride arrived to Becky Lynch’s music and set the tone for the ceremony with some kendo stick shots.

Weddings and gender reveals are huge moments in people’s lives and giving them a wrestling twist is a fun play on the traditional. And we imagine that the couple’s future son may be interested in professional wrestling once he arrives in the world. 

Jon Moxley’s AEW Return Revealed Following IWGP World Title Win

Dominic DeAngelo
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Jon Moxley is finally set for a return to All Elite Wrestling and it was announced by two of his fellow Blackpool Combat Club members.

On AEW Collision Saturday night, Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli had a backstage segment where the two congratulated Moxley on his historic IWGP World Heavyweight Championship win before calling out The Don Callis Family. 

On the 4/17 episode of AEW Dynamite, Castagnoli will be aiming to wear Will Ospreay down ahead of his Dynasty match against Danielson, but the BCC members won’t be alone. Moxley is scheduled to be back in the All Elite fold starting on Wednesday. Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Windy City Riot to earn that IWGP World Title gold and he’ll likely have words for the fans after his big victory.

What Else Is On Tap For AEW Dynamite

Tony Khan is making certain to stack the go-home episode of AEW Dynamite ahead of Dynasty as plenty of segments and matches are already announced for the program.

In addition to Moxley’s return and Ospreay vs. Castagnoli, Dynamite will feature Chris Jericho sitting down with HOOK and Taz, Adam Copeland & Willow Nightingale vs. House Of Black, Swerve Strickland and Samoa Joe will speak, Mariah May will take on Deonna Purrazzo while The Elite will take on PAC, Penta and Daniel Garcia.

The latest AEW Dynamite will forever go down as a polarizing episode due to Tony Khan deciding to air the backstage CM Punk footage from AEW ALL IN. While it was almost universally panned, Dynamite did receive a nice ratings boost greatly in part to the stunt.

The Rock Thanks Everyone For WrestleMania 40

Dominic DeAngelo
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The Rock sure must feel cool because he has indeed helped make “pro wrestling cool again.”

‘The People’s Champion’ caught wind that WWE WrestleMania 40 became Peacock’s most streamed entertainment event ever in it’s short history and it caused ‘The Final Boss’ pause. He took the time to thank all the viewers who put their eyes on the app last weekend.

“Thank you to everyone who tuned in. Pro wrestling is in my blood and it was an honor to help build and deliver this event to the world. – The Final Boss

During the night one press conference of WrestleMania, The Rock was asked if he had a specific moment when he felt it was the right time to make his way back to WWE. The Rock noted that it was the moment when Ari Emanuel, the owner of Endeavor, gave him a ring on the phone to tell him that he was going to buy WWE. That’s when the two decided to work out.a strategy.

The Rock Can Also Thank Cody Rhodes

While The Rock was undoubtedly a major piece to the WrestleMania 40 puzzle, so was his night one dance partner in Cody Rhodes, who ultimately “finished the story” on night two against Roman Reigns.

“The American Nightmare” doesn’t just have the “Cody Crybabies” to make his case, but Rhodes has the actual numbers to back it up.

Over WrestleMania weekend, Cody has sold over $1 million of merchandise and after WrestleMania went off-the-air, he was the most Googled Superstar, even above ‘The Final Boss’ himself.

Jey Uso To Face Judgment Day Member Ahead Of His WWE World Title Match

Dominic DeAngelo
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Jey Uso won’t be able to rest on his laurels despite being the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Uso earned that right on the WWE RAW after WrestleMania as he defeated Drew McIntyre, Bronson Reed and Ricochet in the main event with a little help from CM Punk. However, now it appears Jey may need a little extra help as he’s got more than Damian Priest to deal with.

WWE announced that on this week’s RAW, Jey Uso will face Finn Balor in singles action. Balor is fresh off a tag team loss as he, Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh were defeated by Awesome Truth and John Cena. WWE’s announcement for Balor vs. Uso is below:

Just one week after becoming the No. 1 Contender to the World Heavyweight Championship, “Main Event” Jey Uso will take on Damian Priest’s teammate Finn Bálor.

Uso is looking to capture his first singles title in WWE, but standing in his way of getting to Priest is Bálor as well as the looming threat of “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley.

Will Jey Uso make it to his championship match against Priest? Find out live on Monday Night Raw at 8/7 C on USA!

Could We See Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso Reunite?

Jey Uso isn’t The only former Bloodline member to have his back against the wall. Just this past Friday on SmackDown, Jimmy Uso was beat down big time by Solo Sikoa and the debuting Tama Tonga, all but officially kicking him out of The Bloodline.

Jey defeated Jimmy at WrestleMania 40, but not before Jimmy tried pulling a fast one on his younger twin brother. However, now that Jimmy had a massive reality check, we may see the brothers form an alliance once more soon enough.

Ronda Rousey Admits To Hiding Concussion History From WWE

Dominic DeAngelo
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Ronda Rousey has not been afraid to speak her mind since her WWE exit, but ‘The Baddest Woman On The Planet’ doesn’t have her former company in her future plans moving foward.

Speaking on Steve-O’s “Wild Ride” podcast, Rousey opened up about her lengthy history with concussions all the way back from her early days of Judo and MMA training.

Rousey mentioned how she has suffered so many concussions that she became very susceptible to them as time went on. While in the UFC, Rousey didn’t clue Dana White in on her symptoms, noting that she had to keep a winner’s mentality in order for herself to be successful in the octagon. She said White would also force her tor retire if she did reveal that she was getting concussed. Ronda noted that sometimes even the smallest strikes would cause concussions.

“Stephanie McMahon and Nikki Bella slapping me with an open hand would give me a concussion. I couldn’t say anything.”

Ronda Rousey Remained Quiet When Moving To WWE

Ronda Rousey eventually did head to WWE in 2018, but much like she did with UFC, didn’t open up about her concussion history. She knew if she did she wouldn’t be stepping into the squared circle.

“When I wanted to go to WWE, they’ve had such a complicated past with concussions and stuff like that. They wouldn’t hire me if they knew it was that point. If I let them know how often I was getting concussions, they wouldn’t let me perform in matches. I had a lifetime of experience hiding the fact that I was concussed all the time. So, yea now I can finally talk about it because I don’t think I’ll be wrestling for WWE ever again.”

Rousey also did mention that her family has a history of Alzheimers and dementia and that remains one of her greatest fears.

Credit to “Wild Ride with Steve-O” and h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.

WWE Makes Production Call To Cut Down On Use of Augmented Reality

Aaron Varble
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Augmented and virtual reality became a huge fad that is still picking up speed. That being said, WWE is going to pump the brakes on some of those virtual visuals that fans see on a weekly basis.

WWE plans to reduce the use of Augmented Reality content in its weekly RAW and SmackDown shows, per PW Insider. Although this technology will still appear occasionally, its presence will mainly be limited to Pay-Per-View events.

One source reportedly mentioned that the recent episode of SmackDown is likely the final time Augmented Reality will be used regularly. Additionally, as part of these changes, WWE is expected to reduce its staff and the amount of equipment, such as production trucks, at its events.

This change marks a shift from its previous frequent integration into weekly programming, indicating a new strategic approach to the use of Augmented Reality in WWE broadcasts.

WWE’s Use of Augmented Reality

WWE has really done up the augmented reality during Superstar entrances, with a majority of those setups involving some form of the practice. Judgement Day, The Bloodline, and Cody Rhodes all feature large objects on screen that are only available for fans at home.

Other Superstars like Becky Lynch may also see their augmented reality effects nixed with this move. The company has already stopped using some, as Drew McIntyre no longer carries Angela around, so he doesn’t get a big AR sword anymore. 

As Endeavor shifts WWE into whatever the new era of the company looks like, augments reality will become a rarity. This might bring a more realistic aspect to the product as things appear to have a real-fight feel rather than a spectacle for every single entrance.

Big E Neck Injury Update: He May Never Wrestle Again, But is Pain Free & Happy

Aaron Varble
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WWE fans are hoping for Big E to deliver positive news about a return to wrestling. The New Day member is sharing the results from his latest neck scans two years after his career-threatening injury. Unfortunately, he is still not medically cleared to compete — a status that may be permanent.

The former WWE Champion’s biennial neck scans showed no significant changes. Although his C1 vertebra has healed, it did not form new bone. As badly he wants to get back to his fans, he accepts he may never wrestle again. He feels blessed to be pain free and maintains a grateful outlook on life.

Big E’s Injury and WWE Career

In March 2022, The New Day found themselves feuding with Sheamus and Ridge Holland. During their match on the March 11 episode of SmackDown, Holland performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Big E at ringside, causing the New Day member to land on the top of his head. He was immediately stretchered out and taken to a hospital.

Later, Big E announced on social media that he had broken his neck, specifically fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Fortunately, there were no ligament or spinal cord injuries, and surgery was not necessary.

Big E has stayed active with WWE through his injury as an ambassador and doing community work for the company. He has also helped out with some recruitment and sat in during tryouts as a scout. Big E has a lot to offer the business, even if his days in the ring are over.

He recently made an appearance alongside Kofi and Xavier once again at the WWE Hall of Fame as they inducted Thunderbolt Patterson.

During his WWE career, Big E raked up several championships, including the WWE Title for a 110-day reign. On top of two reigns as IC Champion, Big E also won the NXT Title in 2012, beating inaugural champion Seth Rollins in the early days of the brand.

In the tag team category, he earned the RAW Tag Team Championship twice and the SmackDown Tag Team belts six times as a member of the New Day. Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods used the “Freebird Rule” with the titles as a trio as they cycled out who defended on each night. 

NXT UK Assistant General Manager Sid Scala Released From WWE

Thomas Lowson
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The new era of WWE will not go ahead with Sid Scala as the British Superstar has been cut from the company.

Scala’s exit was first reported by PW Insider. He had been a part of WWE ever since the launch of the NXT UK brand in 2017. As part of the brand, Scala would serve as the Assistant General Manager to British wrestling legend Johnny Saint. 

Scala would have a handful of matches as part of NXT UK and would rack up an unfortunate 0-5 record in WWE. His final match as part of the company would see him lose to Kassius Ohno as part of the September 1, 2019, tapings.

Outside of WWE, Scala has wrestled for PROGRESS Wrestling and CZW, as well as the defunct Global Force Wrestling. His most recent match was a loss at PROGRESS Chapter 97 in October 2019. 

WWE Exits

Scala is the latest name to have left WWE recently. Mere hours before his exit from WWE went public, it was reported that Sue Aitchison had left the company after a 38-year run. Aitchison had been WWE’s Director of Community Relations and had been crucial in WWE’s relationship with Make-A-Wish. She also portrayed the ‘Duchess of Queensbury’ at Backlash 2001. 

Dan Ventrelle also recently left WWE and had been the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations. Trent Wilfinger, the Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development has also parted ways with the company. 

The post-WrestleMania season is usually the time when WWE undergoes ‘spring cleaning’ and releases talent they aren’t using. While this is a new era, it remains to be seen if more follow Scala in the days to come. 

Beloved Employee For Over 38 Years Released By WWE

Aaron Varble
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WWE traditionally makes personnel cuts following the WrestleMania season. With the 40th “Show of Shows” now concluded, several significant internal changes are underway.

Sue Aitchison, the long-standing Director of Community Relations at WWE, has parted ways with the company, according to PWInsider.com. 

Her departure follows the recent exits of two other high-profile employees: Dan Ventrelle, the Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, who was released on April 11, and Trent Wilfinger, the Senior Vice President of Athlete ID & Development, who also left earlier this week.

Sue Aitchison’s Contributions to WWE

Sue Aitchison was not only the longest-serving employee at World Wrestling Entertainment but also a 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Warrior Award recipient. Joining in 1986, she dedicated over 38 years to the company as the Director of Community Relations. 

Sue Aitchison receives the WWE Hall of Fame’s Warrior Award

Aitchison was instrumental in spearheading WWE’s community outreach, notably enhancing the company’s relationship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and initiating various community projects such as the WrestleMania Reading Challenge.

Her outstanding work with Make-A-Wish was honored with the Chris Greicius Award in both 2006 and 2016. Aitchison’s departure is viewed by many as the end of an era in WWE history.

WWE’s Pattern of Releases

As WWE continues to evolve under its new leadership, the pattern of releasing key team members remains apparent. Historically, Vince McMahon would announce a series of roster cuts post-WrestleMania. 

In recent years, these cuts have typically been postponed until after WWE’s event in Saudi Arabia, but precede the annual draft. 

The next WWE Draft is scheduled for April 28 (SmackDown) and May 1 (RAW), and it remains to be seen if further roster cuts will be announced following this series of internal changes.

Kenny Omega: Sometimes A Backstage Fight Is Needed, It’s Not Meant to Be Shown On-Screen

Thomas Lowson
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Kenny Omega has said that sometimes, a backstage fight or two is what it takes in wrestling for wrestlers with grievances to let it all out. 

Since 2022, the topic of backstage fights has cast a dark cloud over AEW, of which Omega is an Executive Vice President. Speaking about All Out 2022 during a recent Twitch stream, Omega admitted that he is of the belief that sometimes, a fight is needed to let things out, but admits this isn’t the right stance in 2024. 

https://twitter.com/puroresuflow/status/1779147574311535003

“I’ve played a lot of contact sports and I’ve gotten into jiu-jitsu and boxing and mixed martial arts… Sometimes emotions will get the best of you and people will want to throw hands. I am unfortunately, or fortunately a believer of it, I think that if it’s decided ‘Hey, this is the best way to solve things’ and you can shake hands after and move on after, I’m actually a believer of fighting.

“I am and it sounds terrible to say and that’s why, don’t make me an EVP in 2024. You can’t do that stuff anymore. I just feel that sometimes that’s how you have to settle things. Sometimes.”

AEW All Out 2022’s backstage fight, now known as ‘Brawl Out,’ would not be the last backstage fight, as Jack Perry and CM Punk would get physical at AEW All In: London less than a year later. Footage from the fight was recently aired on AEW Dynamite though many believe the move to ‘stick it’ to Punk has backfired on Tony Khan. 

During the stream, Omega didn’t mention the All In fight or Khan’s decision to air the footage directly, but said that such fights aren’t meant to be shown on screen.

“I don’t mean you have to settle it and then it be shown on screen to everyone or people have to brag online about who won [or] who lost. No, it’s not for that purpose. It’s for the purpose of getting that stuff out that you need to get out.”

Ultimately, AEW has aired the footage from All In and that can’t be undone. Many now believe though that AEW and Khan are regretting the decision, as many videos of the footage shared online are being flagged by the promotion. 

As for Omega, he is continuing to recover from diverticulitis and it remains unclear when he will be back in the ring. We’re continuing to wish him a full and speedy recovery.

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

Riho Back in Japan to Renew Visa, No Idea When AEW Return Will Happen

Thomas Lowson
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Fans wanting to see Riho back in the ring will have to keep waiting as the former AEW Women’s World Champion is currently in Japan to renew her work Visa. 

Despite being one of the earliest names signed to AEW, fans haven’t seen much of Riho as of late. In a social media post, the inaugural AEW Women’s World Champion shared that she’s currently in Japan and is waiting for her Visa to be renewed. Riho added that she does not know when she will be returning to AEW programming. 

Riho’s social media post explaining her absence. 

Riho has competed just seven times for AEW over the past 12 months. Her most recent match was on the AEW Dynamite ‘Big Business’ show in March of 2024. She was defeated by Willow Nightingale. 

Visa Issues

Riho Isn’t the only name to be dealing with Visa issues. Jay White was absent from AEW’s recent events in Canada and it was reported that was due to Visa problems prohibiting him from working in the Great White North. 

Rush’s most recent match for AEW was at Worlds End and saw him on the losing side of an eight-man tag-team match. Not only is Rush dealing with Visa issues, but he has also been recovering from an injury.

Katsutori Shibata had to return to Japan in November 2023 due to Visa issues. This resulted in him relinquishing the Ring of Honor PURE Championship to Wheeler Yuta. This was hardly the biggest setback of his career though, as Shibata nearly died after a match with Kazuchika Okada in 2017. He now plans to end his wrestling career with AEW. 

Visa issues are an unfortunate side-effect of wrestlers who seek success outside of their home country. Hopefully, it won’t be long before Riho has things sorted and is back in an AEW ring once more. 

Daily Drop (4/13): WWE Introduces New Bloodline, Jon Moxley Wins NJPW Gold

Aaron Varble
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Welcome to the Daily Drop for Saturday, April 13, 2024. There is a lot going on in the pro wrestling world, so let’s not waste any time.

You never know what can happen in the pro wrestling world, and fans woke up to Jon Moxley as the new IWPG World Heavyweight Champion as he beat Tetsuya Naito at NJPW Windy City Riot.

WWE fans are also talking about how the Bloodline changed last night on SmackDown. Tama Tonga finally made his WWE debut, and it was to take out Jimmy Uso and seemingly replace him in the faction.

Now, let’s get into today’s Daily Drop:

WWE:

– Vince Selling Out: McMahon’s remaining TKO shares are now registered for sale. It looks like The Chairman is finally getting out of the pro wrestling business.

– Matt Riddle Walkout: Ex WWE Superstar Matt Riddle didn’t make the best impression at the NJPW Windy City Riot show. After he lost his match to Zach Sabre Jr, he rolled out of the ring, no-sold the defeat, danced around a bit and walked off. That was not a great look for the Original Bro.

– Strange Days Ahead: WWE is still teasing something ominous with weird messages during SmackDown.

– Foxxy is Back: Alicia Fox, as Vix Crow, wrestled her first match in years last night. She impressed a lot of people by not skipping a beat.

– Stone Cold Talks: to make a WrestleMania appearance, but they couldn’t agree on money. So, The Undertaker replaced him in the main event match.

AEW:

– Scapegoat Update: Jack Perry referenced AEW airing the CM Punk footage during the NJPW Windy City Riot show.

– No Swearing: Toni Storm said that Thunder Rosa’s name is considered like a profanity around her household.

– Sting After Retirement: What will Sting do now? We have an update in one of your latest articles.

AEW Collision Card (4/13):

  • AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match: Toni Storm (c) vs. AZM
  • Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli) vs. Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher)
  • Lee Moriarty vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. Dante Martin, Action Andretti & Matt Sydal

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

  • AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
  • Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
  • WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
  • WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
  • WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Adam Copeland Is Thankful Wrestling Has Moved Past ‘Live Sex Celebration’ Era

Anutosh Bajpai
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Adam Copeland is glad that wrestling has moved past segments such as the infamous live sex celebration.

The TNT Champion recently had an interview with Chek Media where they talked about the change in wrestling culture over the past few decades. Copeland was asked about the infamous segment and how he has grown since then.

Copeland mentioned that despite the difference in eras, he knew even back then that things they were doing were inappropriate. According to the AEW star, if he was offered any such thing today, he would have the confidence to just say no:

“Well Adam Copeland now would say no to that. But Adam Copeland then was like, ‘I guess this is part of the gig, this is what I got to do.’ Knowing even at the time, even with time differences or anything like that, it’s like, ‘Well, this sucks,’ and it did. It really did.

Now I have the confidence in myself, confidence as a performer. To know ‘nah I don’t gotta do that. I bring more than that to the table.’ I can do more with my eyes. than I can with trying cheap stuff like that. So that’s nice that the industry has grown from that because yeah, it’s easy to go for low-hanging fruit.

I think that’s one thing that wrestling did a lot of, and thankfully I think has learned its lesson. I think as society has progressed, as everyone has just kind of progressed and moved forward. I think thankfully, it has too, which wasn’t always the case. It could kind of be the outlier who was left lagging behind, but I feel like now it’s different, and in a good way.”

The Power of No: Adam Copeland

When asked what advice he would give to any young talent who is offered any such role, Adam Copeland referenced the rise of the internet and social media. He explained that before accepting any such thing, you have to consider the fact that it can live on forever:

“Well, I think you just gotta [know] what are you comfortable with. Not only what are you comfortable with but what are you comfortable with living possibly forever? That’s a big decision to make now, right? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with, no matter what your age, going ‘Nah I think I’m good.’ The power of no, is a beautiful thing.”

Edge cashed in his Money In The Bank contract to defeat John Cena and win his first World Championship at the 2006 New Year’s Revolution event. The next night on Raw, the Rated R Superstar declared that he would celebrate the win with ‘hot, unbridled sex’ with Lita live on the show. The segment went on for a while before it was interrupted by Ric Flair and later Cena.

You can check out Adam Copeland’s full interview below:

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription.

Miro Shares Details On AEW Absence, Has a Great Relationship with Tony Khan

Thomas Lowson
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0

AEW’s Miro is working hard to recover from his latest injury setback but there’s no word on when fans can expect the Bulgarian back in action. 

Fans last saw Miro in the ring at AEW Worlds End where he defeated Andrade El Idolo thanks to an assist from CJ Perry. A lot has changed since then, including Andrade’s returning to WWE in January 2024 and Perry and Miro announcing their separation. 

Sitting down with Sportskeeda’s WrestleBinge, Miro was asked about his ongoing absence from AEW and shared that he’s dealing with multiple injuries. 

“I have a shoulder injury and an elbow injury that occurred late last year, so finally took care of it late January. Got a whole bunch of shots and now I’m recovering.”

Miro added that he plans on coming back “better than ever” but there’s no word on when that’ll be, leaving fans to wonder what’s next for the former TNT Champion.

Working with Tony Khan

Miro’s return was supposed to come as part of the ‘Meat Madness’ match at AEW Revolution that was scrapped as both Miro and Keith Lee couldn’t compete. Despite this, Miro maintains a positive relationship with the AEW President. 

Tony’s great, man. He’s creative, his mind is running always, he always thinks about wrestling, he’s always thinking about how to get things better. So I respect that. I respect that he loves wrestling.”

Miro’s stance on Khan is an interesting one considering that the AEW President has often overlooked the former TNT Champion. In fact, Miro’s absence from programming in 2023 (that wasn’t due to injury) led to Miro’s then-wife CJ Perry claiming Khan was playing favorites. 

Miro’s future remains uncertain, though he said in the interview that he’d love to face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe or AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland. And while some of Khan’s decisions may not have gone down well with many, Miro is pleased to be a part of AEW. 

Watch: Matt Riddle Walks Out After Losing NJPW World TV Championship

Thomas Lowson
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0

Matt Riddle was in no mood to stick around after losing the NJPW World Television Championship at NJPW Windy City Riot 2024. 

Riddle lost the gold to Zack Sabre Jr. at the April 12, event from Chicago, IL. After the pinfall loss, Riddle immediately got out of the ring and walked to the back, laughing and dancing without any regard for the outcome. This is hardly a good look for Riddle as it seems that the title meant nothing to him

This win makes Sabre the first-ever two-time NJPW World TV Champion. He was the inaugural champion and won the title at Wrestle Kingdom in January 2017 and held the title for exactly one year. 

NJPW Windy City Riot Highlights

Riddle’s behavior wasn’t the only notable part of New Japan’s Windy City Riot event. The show also saw Jon Moxley become IWGP World Heavyweight Champion with a main event win over Tetsuya Naito. The win makes Moxley the first man in history to have held the WWE, AEW, and New Japan World Championships. 

Jack Perry also competed at NJPW Windy City Riot in a loss to Shota Umino. For his entrance, Perry wore a jacket emblazoned with the message ‘CRY ME A RIVER.’ This was an obvious nod to Perry’s backstage altercation with CM Punk at AEW All In: London which resulted in both being suspended and Punk later being fired. 

AEW broadcasted the backstage footage during a segment on AEW Dynamite but removed the footage when uploading the segment in question to YouTube. 

Vince McMahon’s Remaining TKO Group Holdings Shares Registered for Sale

Thomas Lowson
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0

The Vince McMahon era is indeed coming to an end as the ex-WWE Chairman’s remaining shares in TKO Group Holdings have been listed for sale. 

A filing published on April 12 revealed that 8,021,405 TKO shares belonging to Vince McMahon had been registered for sale. This allows for the shares to be bought and sold with less administrative friction. This move doesn’t necessarily mean that Vince will be selling all of his shares, although he might. Should every share be sold, it would mean that McMahon has no official stake in TKO Group Holdings.

This move comes mere days after McMahon sold 1.642 million shares to Endeavor while TKO purchased 1.853 million shares. These two sales earned McMahon an approximate $293 million. 

McMahon unloaded 5.35 million shares in early March and sold 3.48 million more shares that same month. With his 8,021,405 shares, McMahon retains a 4.7% stake in TKO. 

A New Era Dawns

McMahon’s selling of shares comes at a pivotal time for WWE as the promotion continues to distance itself from the former Chairman. Over WrestleMania week, there was a lot of talk of a ‘new era’ in WWE with Stephanie McMahon calling this the ‘Paul Levesque Era’ during WrestleMania 40: Sunday. 

It’s hard not to notice this ‘new era’ both on WWE programming and behind the scenes. WWE’s changes to its on-screen production have been praised by fans who appreciate the new style of Lee Fitting who has replaced company veteran Kevin Dunn. Behind the scenes, Dan Ventrelle has left WWE as the company’s Head of Talent Relations with Triple H and Shawn Michaels overseeing both talent and talent development. 

You Forgot About Us: WWE Continues Ominous Teases On 4/12 Post-WrestleMania SmackDown

Thomas Lowson
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0

The WWE Universe was once again given an ominous message via a ‘glitch’ as part of the April 12, post-WrestleMania 40 edition of WWE SmackDown. 

The glitch occurred during a tag-team match pitting Chelsea Green & Piper Niven against Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. Though it appeared for a fraction of a second, eagle-eyed fans were able to spot the message ‘you forgot about us.’

What does this message on WWE SmackDown mean? 

This wasn’t the only bizarre message in store for the fans who attended WWE SmackDown in Detroit. Before the show, eerie music was played, and the video screens displayed the WWE SmackDown logo in black and white. 

What Does This Mean? 

These incidents at the April 12, episode of WWE SmackDown aren’t the only bizarre sightings as of late. During the post-WrestleMania 40 edition of Raw, a ‘glitch’ during a promo with ‘Big’ Bronson Reed bore the message ‘hello.’

The prevailing theory among fans is that this is setting up the return of Uncle Howdy, who was portrayed by Bo Dallas in 2022 and 2023. The character was introduced following Bray Wyatt’s return at WWE Extreme Rules 2022 but was pulled from TV alongside Wyatt in early 2023. As one fan with a good memory pointed out on Twitter, Howdy previously described himself as ‘us’ during a segment. 

The ‘us’ line has also had fans speculating that Uncle Howdy will not return alone, and that Alexa Bliss’ return to programming may be drawing near. Bliss was once associated with Wyatt but hasn’t competed in over a year due to pregnancy. The former Women’s Champion gave birth to daughter Hendrix last year. Before plans were nixed due to Bray’s illness, there were reported plans for a ‘Wyatt 6’ faction that would’ve included Uncle Howdy. 

Vix Crow (Alicia Fox) Victorious In First Wrestling Match in Years at Starrcast: Down Under

Thomas Lowson
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Vix Crow, better known to fans as WWE’s Alicia Fox, proved she’s still got ‘it’ with an impressive victory in her first wrestling match in a very long time. 

Crow competed against fellow WWE alum Mickie James at the all-female Starrcast: Down Under ‘HER’ event. As seen in the match highlights below, Crow hadn’t lost a step when she defeated the former WWE & TNA Women’s Champion. 

This match was Crow’s first official match in wrestling since January 2022 when she was a surprise entrant in the WWE Women’s Royal Rumble match won by Ronda Rousey (which also featured James.) The match at ‘HER’ was Crow’s first singles match since the April 22, 2019, edition of WWE Monday Night Raw, where she lost to Becky Lynch. Her previous singles victory was back on the July 30, 2018, episode of Raw where she defeated Natalya. 

Vix Crow is Back

Crow was with WWE for over a decade but confirmed in May 2023 that she was a free agent. Crow later admitted that she felt bad about how things ended with WWE as there was a lack of communication by the promotion over her status on the roster. 

Whether Vix Crow wrestles again or if her role at Starrcast was a one-off remains to be seen. In the past, the former WWE Divas & 24/7 Champion has shown interest in facing off with Deonna Purrazzo and Ruby Soho, both of whom are with AEW. Whatever the future holds, Crow remains in great ring condition which certainly bodes well for her future. 

Watch: What Happened With Cody Rhodes After (4/12) SmackDown Went Off Air

Anutosh Bajpai
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Cody Rhodes wasn’t made fully aware of all the perks of being the top champion in WWE and he actually got surprised by his pyro during the dark match entrance after SmackDown went off air.

The American Nightmare opened tonight’s show. He first talked about his Universal Championship win and then confirmed that he will be defending the title at the upcoming Backlash: France event.

The new champion came out once again for a dark match after the show went off air. He successfully defended his title against ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio and cut a promo for the crowd after the match was over:

What Happened On SmackDown

Elsewhere in the show we also saw a huge change in the order of the Bloodline. While Roman Reigns wasn’t present for the episode, Paul Heyman alongside Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso were involved in a segment.

Heyman first claimed that they take accountability for the WrestleMania loss. Before he could finish his promo, however, Sikoa took the mic and declared that losing has consequences. This was in reference to Jimmy losing his WrestleMania 40 match against brother Jey Uso.

A hooded figure then appeared out of nowhere and beat down Jimmy Uso, essentially kicking him out of the faction. The figure revealed himself as the newest member of The Bloodline – Tama Tonga.

Solo and Tonga delivered a brutal beatdown to Jimmy and the segment ended with Heyman joining them while they returned to the back.

Elsewhere in the show, we also saw Bron Breakker winning his first singles match after saying goodbye to NXT and Jade Cargill teaming up with Bianca Belair for a victory over Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.

Jon Moxley Wins IWGP World Heavyweight Title with Historic Victory at NJPW Windy City Riot

Thomas Lowson
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AEW’s Jon Moxley has added another massive accomplishment to his legendary career by becoming the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. 

In the main event of NJPW Windy City Riot, Moxley dethroned Tetsuya Naito for the gold. Naito had held the title since Wrestle Kingdom 18 in January 2024, where he had dethroned Sanada. 

Not only did Moxley win the gold, but he has also made history in the process. With this victory, the AEW star has become the first person to win the richest prize in New Japan, All Elite Wrestling, and WWE. 

Renee Paquette & Tony Khan Show Support

Moxley had two important allies by his side for his latest World Championship victory, most importantly his wife Renee Paquette:

AEW President Tony Khan was also spotted at the event and congratulated Mox on winning New Japan’s top prize in the same building where he first won the AEW World Championship.

One fan attempted to call him out for attending NJPW Windy City Riot instead of his own show, AEW Rampage, which also aired Friday night (but was taped earlier in the week). Khan joked that it was a ‘Friday Night Timecop’ situation, a reference to the 1994 Jean-Claude Van Damme about a time-traveling law enforcement officer.

Cry Me a River

Moxley wasn’t the only notable name at NJPW Windy City Riot, as Jack Perry competed against Shota Umino in a losing effort. As you can watch below, Perry arrived to his match with a jacket emblazoned with the message ‘CRY ME A RIVER,’ a nod to his backstage altercation with CM Punk at All In: London that AEW recently aired. 

‘Scapegoat’ Jack Perry References AEW All In Fight with CM Punk at NJPW Windy City Riot

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Jack Perry’s AEW future remains uncertain, but the former Jungle Boy was able to poke fun at CM Punk during a recent appearance in Chicago, IL. 

During the April 10, episode of Dynamite, AEW made the bold decision to air the backstage altercation between Perry and Punk from All In: London 2023. Many have criticized the move as unnecessary with many arguing releasing the footage has done more damage to AEW’s reputation than CM Punk’s. 

At the NJPW Windy City Riot event in Chicago, Perry took on Shota Umino. Before the two locked up though, the self-professed ‘Scapegoat’ arrived with security and the flag of Chicago. Perry also wore a jacket emblazoned with the message ‘CRY ME A RIVER.’ It was this comment during his All In: London match with HOOK that led to Punk confronting him backstage. 

As for the match, Perry would hold his own against Umino but was ultimately defeated by the Japanese wrestler who used a Death Rider. After the match, Perry offered Umino a handshake, which Umino accepted.

What’s to Come for Jack Perry? 

Some believe that releasing the All In: London footage could mark the start of Perry’s return to AEW programming. With that said, Tony Khan was recently said to still be mad at Perry over what transpired, with the belief that Perry ‘cost’ AEW CM Punk, who has since returned to WWE. 

Khan may not be pleased with Perry referencing the backstage fight, despite it being Khan’s decision to release the footage this week in the first place. AEW has been flagging videos of the fight and having them taken down. Some believe this is a sign AEW & Khan are regretting airing the backstage altercation. 

Outside of AEW, Perry has continued to make a name for himself as the ‘Scapegoat,’ which plays off the notion of him being unfairly blamed for All In: London. He has been appearing for New Japan as part of the House of Terror. 

Tiffany Stratton Cosplays As ‘Clueless’ On SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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Tiffany Stratton is ready to light up the SmackDown roster, and she did so with some special gear this week. The former NXT Women’s Champion rocked ring attire that paid homage to her “Clueless” character roots.

Stratton wore a black and yellow outfit on SmackDown this week. Corey Graves dropped “as if” on commentary during that segment for a reason. Her look was very close to Alicia Silverstone’s famous costume from the classic teen comedy.

Previous WWE Superstar Tributes

WWE Superstars will pay homage to their favorite pop culture. Johnny Gargano is known for paying tribute to a variety of comic book characters. Becky Lynch famously wore a tribute to The Bride from Quintin Tarantino’s Kill Bill film.

Of course, when you’re talking about cosplay, you can’t forget about Zelina Vega. The LWO member has dressed up as several video game and anime characters for years.

Tiffany Stratton was born in 1999, years before “Clueless” was released in 1995, but that film is obviously a big part of her roots. Her tribute was certainly noticed on the blue brand’s show this week.

What Happened This Week

Bayley made her way to the ring, ready to embrace what is next after defeating IYO Sky at WrestleMania 40. Then Stratton entered the situation on SmackDown this week as she interrupted Bayley’s first promo as WWE Women’s Champion.

Stratton wanted to cash in on an open challenge from Bayley, but the champion didn’t offer one. The former Damage CTRL leader wanted to face Naomi, and The Glow soon came down to claim a match with Stratton, one that the former Knockouts Champion won.

Toni Storm On Thunder Rosa: She Is A Swear Word In My Household

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After being sidelined with a back injury for over a year, Thunder Rosa was intent on reclaiming the title she previously vacated. On April 21, Rosa will have the opportunity to do just that as she challenges Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship at the 2024 Dynasty pay-per-view. 

Before Rosa vies for the title again, though, Toni Storm has issued a candid statement regarding her return as well as their previous history. 

“Right now, the thorn in my side is a woman by the name of Thunder Rosa. She has beaten me twice. I am yet to beat her. She is my arch nemesis,” Storm told Going Ringside. “I do not take to her too kindly. She is a swear word in my household. You don’t talk about her in my mansion, but at Dynasty on April 21st, we have a big pay-per-view.  It’s in Saint Louis. That’s going to be the night where I finally beat that dirty rotten Thunder Rosa.”

Storm vs. Rosa History

As Storm alluded to, Rosa enters this Dynasty title match with two prior victories over her, the first of which took place at the 2022 AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view. On this occasion, Rosa successfully defended the AEW Women’s Championship.

Two months later, Rosa would vacate the title due to a lingering back injury. According to Storm, though, Rosa’s decision to give up the title stems from her inability to live up to the pressures of being the champion.

“She was injured. She had to leave. She had to leave because she couldn’t handle the pressure of being a champion. She had a back injury because she was not strong enough to carry this mountain of gold right here. Then I came in and became champion. I’ve been champion three times [now].”

Tama Tonga Joins The Bloodline on 4/12 SmackDown, Jimmy Uso Kicked Out

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WrestleMania is in the rearview mirror, and WWE has been known to re-stack the deck. This week’s SmackDown included a big change for The Bloodline as Jimmy Uso was kicked out to make room for Tama Tonga.

It is a new era for the Bloodline. The Rock is gone after WrestleMania, although he did promise to return for a match against Cody Rhodes. Roman Reigns is also taking a break after losing his title.

There is a new Bloodline, and Paul Heyman is reluctantly on board.

Bloodline Changes After WrestleMania 40

The Bloodline took to the ring this week on SmackDown, and they had a lot to address. The Wise Man Paul Heyman spoke about Cody Rhodes winning the Undisputed WWE World Title at WrestleMania.

Suddenly, Solo Sikoa cut off WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman’s speech on SmackDown this week to make his own announcement. He called attention to Jimmy Uso and how he should be reprimanded for losing. Then Solo hugged Jimmy in the ring while saying, “you’re my brother, I love you.“

Jimmy Uso is coming off a WrestleMania loss to his brother, Jey Uso. There are punishments for losing, and they made that point very clear when Tama Tonga jumped in the ring to attack Jimmy.

After a brutal beat-down in the ring, which included wrapping a chair around Jimmy’s head in the corner followed by a running hip attack from Solo, brought a new chapter in the Bloodline saga.

Paul Heyman famously said that we were only in the “bottom of the 3rd inning” at SummerSlam last year. We have to wonder where they are in the ballgame after this development after WrestleMania 40.

The Wise Man looked scared in the corner, fearing that he was next in line. That beatdown on Heyman did not happen, as Solo brought him to join him and Tama as they did the Bloodline sign. Heyman, although a bit hesitant, did the pose alongside them.

Who is Tama Tonga

Roman Reigns and Tama Tonga are not related, but they share a connection through their Polynesian heritage. Tonga, real name Alipate Fifita, is of Tongan descent, while Reigns is Samoan, both belonging to the broader Polynesian cultural group. He is son of legendary pro wrestler Haku.

Tama entered WWE after having a lengthy run in NJPW, where he won many titles along the way. He has won the IWGP Tag Team Championship seven times with Tanga Loa. Tama is a four-time NEVER Openweight Champion and has won the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship four times.

He’s been on WWE’s radar for a while, but NJPW kept him locked in a contract. Needless to say, The Bloodline has a huge boost with Tama in their ranks.

There are other potential future Bloodline members possibly on their way. Jacob Fatu and Zilla Fatu, who is Umaga’s son, are always possibilities. From the way they splintered things off, it looks like Jimmy Uso could use an ally to fight the new Bloodline now.

WWE SmackDown Preview (4/12): Cody Rhodes, Bayley & WrestleMania Fallout

Aaron Varble
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Tonight’s 4/12 WWE SmackDown takes place from Detroit, Michigan at the sold-out Little Caesars Arena. Over 13,000 wrestling fans will be on hand to witness the fallout from WrestleMania 40 and the start of a new era on Friday nights.

Here’s what WWE is advertising for the show: 

  • Cody Rhodes will appear
  • Bayley will celebrate her championship win at WrestleMania

Plus, a mini-tournament will also kick off tonight to determine the #1 contender to Cody Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. We’ll see two triple-threat matches, with the winners squaring off next week to determine the next challenger:

  • Kevin Owens vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles
  • Santos Escobar vs. LA Knight vs. Bobby Lashley

This is expected to be an eventful show. WWE always shakes things up after WrestleMania with new storylines and feuds. The Bloodline is in utter turmoil following WrestleMania 40. Roman Reigns has been conquered, The Rock is leaving again and Paul Heyman needs to figure out what to do with himself with the Tribal Chief cast into exiled. Could we see a New Bloodline emerge?

Looking Ahead

WWE DRAFT: During the RAW after WrestleMania, it was confirmed that the next WWE Draft is going down this month. The WWE Draft will be taking place on April 26th for SmackDown and April 29th for RAW. So, we only have a limited time left with these current rosters.

BACKLASH: WWE Backlash: France takes place Saturday, May 4 from Lyon, France. Jey Uso won a #1 contender’s match on Raw to become  the next challenger to new World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest. While not confirmed, this clash is expected for Backlash.

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