A series of trademarks filed by WWE has given wrestling fans a hint at what the promotion may have planned in the coming weeks and months. Over the past week, WWE has filed trademarks for ‘The Wyatt Sicks,’ ‘The Pure Fusion Collective,’ ‘Pure Fusion’ and ‘Fatal Influence.’ The terms have been filed for the use in entertainment services and broadcast media.
The Wyatt Sicks
WWE has already been using the term The Wyatt Sicks for some time now as the Uncle Howdy-led faction has proven to be a force to be reckoned with so far. The group recently made its in-ring debut with a win over the Creed Brothers and Chad Gable. The Olympian was ‘killed’ by the faction during its arrival in June and has been at odds with the group ever since. Outside of WWE, The Wyatt Sicks has also been targeting The Pat McAfee Show.
So far, WWE has not used the term Fatal Influence on TV, leaving fans to speculate if it is a new faction, an event name, or something else entirely. The name does highlight WWE’s new era contrasting with its previous administration under Vince McMahon. The former WWE CEO reportedly had strict rules against certain words, including anything that made reference to killing or a loss of life.
There is always discussions about unionizing in professional wrestling, according to ECW alum Francine, who believes that for all this talk, talent may be scared to do so. On her Eyes Up Here podcast, Francine discussed the possibility of whether a union in wrestling will ever happen.
“There’s always been somebody saying, ‘you know we really should start a union.’ and it never ever happens. It never happens.”
Francine recalled being approached recently by “somebody who has a bit of clout” about possibly forming a union. The ECW alum was approached as this ‘somebody’ wanted names to support the idea. Since then, Francine hasn’t heard anything about this latest attempt to unionize and isn’t entirely surprised.
“I don’t know if the boys are scared to do it because they might not get work, but I don’t know it’s a touchy subject.”
Wrestling & Unions
Jesse Ventura tried to forge a union in professional wrestling in an act that ultimately cost him his job in the WWF. For years, including on a recent media appearance, Ventura has claimed that Hulk Hogan ‘tattled’ on him to Vince McMahon and that the Hulkster was opposed to unionization benefitting others.
In 2020, talk of unionization sprang up again as WWE clamped down on talent engaging in third-party deals without their involvement. Mere minutes after Zelina Vega shared her support for unionization, she was released from WWE in a move that spawned backlash among fans. Vega was rehired by WWE the following year and remains employed to this day.
When Freddie Prinze Jr. shared intentions to launch his own wrestling promotion, he claimed that talent would be welcomed into the SAG-AFTRA union for actors. In the years since then though, Prinze’s promotion has yet to launch, though the former WWE writer continues to give updates on a planned broadcast deal.
A new trailer from Netflix has given wrestling fans their first look at The Queen of Villains, a new project about the life and career of Dump Matsumoto. The Queen of Villains will premiere on September 19, on the streaming juggernaut. You can check out the trailer below.
Witness the rise of Japan's most frightening heel.
The Queen of Villains, the untold story of Dump Matsumoto, premieres September 19. pic.twitter.com/do5Y17l1xa
Matsumoto terrified Japanese women’s wrestling as a heel during the 1980s and was world-renowned for her brutal style in the ring. With her larger-than-life persona as a villain, Matsumoto became a leading figure in All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling and she would become something of a cultural phenomenon.
Matsumoto led the notorious Atrocious Alliance stable, which introduced fans to wrestlers such as WWE Hall of Famer Bull Nakano. Her rivalry with the popular Crush Gals, particularly Chigusa Nagayo, remains the stuff of legend and Matsumoto is still regarded as one of the most influential in the history of Japanese women’s wrestling.
Pro-Wrestling and Netflix
The Queen of Villains is just one of Netflix’s forays into the world of professional wrestling. For years, the popular GLOW series gave fans a look into the iconic women’s promotion and the glamorous and not-so-glamorous side of 80s wrestling.
A new show from All Elite Wrestling will give fans a deep-dive look into last year’s All In mega-show, ahead of the promotion’s return to London. AEW Stories will premiere on AEW’s YouTube channel this coming Monday and promises to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the promotion’s largest event to date.
Mark your calendars for a behind the scenes look at one of the BIGGEST wrestling shows of the year! #AEW Stories: #AEWAllIn London premieres NEXT Monday at noon! pic.twitter.com/sNDtGiHDSh
All In: London 2023 took place on August 27, from Wembley Stadium in London, England and saw over 75,000 fans fill the venue for AEW’s first show outside North America. The event saw Saraya win her first championship in close to a decade, while MJF retained the AEW World Championship in the main event against Adam Cole.
AEW All In: CM Punk & Jack Perry
The show was unfortunately overshadowed to some degree by a backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry. After Perry made a comment about using real glass for his match with HOOK, Punk confronted him and the pair got physical. Punk would later compete against Samoa Joe but both he and Perry would be suspended after the event. Punk would be fired mere days later while Perry’s suspension would only come to an end in 2024. It remains to be seen to what extent, if any, AEW Stories will address this situation which was aired on an episode of Dynamite earlier this year.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on AEW Stories as the All-Elite promotion prepares to return to the UK for its second All In pay-per-view.
Dax Harwood spoke about the youngster during an Instagram live. He revealed that Tommy Billington received an AEW contract offer the same night as his match against Harwood. The next day WWE called close aides of Billington to check whether he had an interest in joining WWE. However, Billington decided to sign with AEW.
Billington has had a couple of impressive outings against veterans Konosuke Takeshita and Dax Harwood in recent months. His match against Dax Harwood gained traction. Though he lost the matches, he was able to put up impactful performances.
Fans speculated about his contract status and Fightful reported that “according to talent close to Tommy, they say that he’s been signed by AEW.” While WWE and NXT also expressed their interest Tommy was determined to sign with AEW. The 23-year-old star Tommy Billington is undoubtedly a promising talent and he has a bright future ahead. After starting his career in 2018, he has competed in several independent promotions including RCW, WPW, DEFY.
We will have to wait and see how he performs in AEW in his future matches.
Dominik Mysterio is excited to see what boundaries they can push with the move to Netflix.
WWE Raw is set to leave traditional cable TV and move to Netflix in a monumental deal at the start of next year. There is a lot of chatter about how this will change the landscape of professional wrestling.
The Judgment Day star was the most recent guest on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast. He discussed things such as his storyline with Rhea Ripley, working with Eddie Guerrero and more.
When the topic of the Netflix deal came up, Paul explained how wrestlers will be able to take advantage of the global reach to expand their personal brand. Dirty Dom mentioned that he hasn’t thought about the move in that manner and his focus is on putting out the best performance he can:
“To me I just want to wrestle. I just want to go out there and put on the best performances as possible. But on the business side of it, which I feel like a lot of, it’s newer for us wrestlers to like kind of do it that way.
Cause like I said, I feel like we just kind of want to go out there and wrestle and perform and give the best to the fans. So this is, bringing it to Netflix, it’s gonna, a whole new set of eyes, different crowd, you can get new people involved. It’s going to be…I want to see what boundaries we can push with it for sure.”
WWE has slowly moved towards more edgier programming in the past couple of years. Angles such as Dominik’s storyline with Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan have been testing out the limits of what’s allowed on cable TV.
When asked how he thinks the programming will adapt to streaming which will have even fewer restrictions, Mysterio mentioned that fans would expect them to go all out with explicit content. The former champion, however, explained that you have to restrict the amount of mature content in order to make it meaningful:
“I think people are going to expect us to go in there and just…first episode of Raw on Netflix I think people are gonna expect you know freaking blood and tables everywhere, titties. Like Edge and Lita where they had the live sex show.
I’m sure people are going to expect things like that but I feel like in order for stuff like that to be special and meaningful you can’t have it all the time. It’s gotta come like an RKO out of nowhere. It’s like you don’t expect it and then it’s like, boom – titty!”
Dominik Mysterio is currently scheduled to team with Liv Morgan to take on Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest in a mixed tag match at the Bash In Berlin PPV on August 31.
Lucha Brothers’ Penta El Zero Miedo recently refuted the rumors of him possibly jumping ship to WWE.
WrestlePurists reported that Penta would be in Orlando at some point this week, indicating his signing with WWE. However, Penta El Zero Miedo took to social media and cleared the air on his future. He urged the outlet to stop posting fake news and said that he is currently signed with AEW.
“Please stop posting fake news !! My present is AEW !!”
Reports started to float that former AEW World Tag Team Champions The Lucha Brothers (Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix) are expected to part ways with AEW after their contracts their contract expire later this year. They both have reportedly drawn interest from WWE. It was previously reported that Penta’s contract with AEW will end between August and September.
On August 1, Penta El Zero Miedo filed trademark for the names of “Cero Miedo,” “Zero Miedo,” and “AN1MO” for the meaning of entertainment purposes. Meanwhile, Rey Fenix filed for “King Fuego,” “Rey Fuego,” and “Fuego” all on the same date for the same reason. This further fueled speculation about their future.
Rey Fenix withdrew from an indie appearance which implied that he had signed a deal with WWE. New Era Wrestling confirmed Fenix’s withdrawal from their event which is scheduled for September 2nd. While Penta El Zero Miedo has snubbed the rumors, Rey Fenix has remained tight-lipped about his future.
The latest episode of WWE NXT saw the gold brand receive a dramatic shake-up with not one but two titles changing hands on the broadcast. The show marked NXT’s return to the USA Network after two weeks of hosting its Great American Bash special on SyFy.
WWE NXT Title Changes
In our opening contest of the night, Tony D’Angelo put his Heritage Cup on the line against Charlie Dempsey. This match was secured by Wren Sinclair, who earned the opportunity for the No Quarter Catch Crew last week with a victory over Kendal Grey (a victory that also earned her a spot in the faction.)
D’Angelo got the first pinfall of the contest in round two, but Dempsey fought back. Once again, Sinclair paid dividends for the NQCC as it was her interference, knocking D’Angelo off the top role that allowed Dempsey to get the decisive third pinfall of the match.
In our main event, the NXT Tag Team Championships were on the line as Nathan Frazer and Axiom defended against Andre Chase and Ridge Holland of Chase U. In the end, it was Holland who got the win for his team after planting Axiom with Northern Grit.
Chase U rushed the ring to celebrate with Chase and Holland as confetti filled the arena. This ends the title reign of Frazer and Axiom at 126 days. This is the second reign for Chase, who previously held the gold with Duke Hudson in a reign that lasted 21 days. This is Holland’s first NXT Tag Title reign and first taste of any WWE gold since joining the promotion in 2018.
SE Scoops’ very own MuscleManMalcolm has taken his next step in the wrestling industry after making his debut as an in-ring competitor. Malcolm competed at the MCW Dynamo Runs The Show event this week which took place at the RJ Meyer Arena at Joppa Grand Market in Joppa, MD. In footage shared on Facebook, Malcolm can be seen holding his own against two opponents, and using some unique offense after declaring “I’m gonna hit them with my butt!” Malcolm also hits an impressive-looking Samoan drop in the footage recorded at ringside.
Speaking in a YouTube video ahead of the show, Malcolm shared how he went from ring-side attendee to in-ring talent. After being confronted by some heels at a previous MCW event, Malcolm played a role in the pair losing a match, setting up a tag-team encounter at MCW Dynamo Runs The Show.
Malcolm may have triumphed during his in-ring debut, but he is best known in the world of wrestling for his insightful interviews with top wrestling names. Carmelo Hayes, Tiffany Stratton, Chad Gable, and Otis are just some of the names to have been interviewed by Malcolm over his years in the industry.
WWE icon John Cena has revealed how many appearances for the promotion he will make next year as he embarks on his retirement tour. Speaking to Collider, Cena said that work on his Peacemaker series will keep him busy for the rest of 2024, but he has fully committed 2025 to WWE.
“It’s gonna be right around 36 dates around the world to pay thanks and gratitude to the WWE audiences around the world. So, that’s what I’m doing in 2025.”
As one of the biggest names in wrestling history, it’s hardly a surprise that several wrestlers have put themselves forward for Cena’s farewell tour. CM Punk hopes to team with John before the latter calls it a career while The Miz is hoping to get one last match with Cena after previously headlining WrestleMania 27 in 2011.
The Bloodline will be back in full force very soon after a recent injury scare threatened the group’s solidarity at a critical time. Jacob Fatu recently burst onto the scene as the newest member of The Bloodline.
The former MLW World Champion immediately aligned with Solo Sikoa, adding another highly combustible element to the group. Fatu wasted no time, winning the World Tag Team Championships with Tama Tonga and playing a significant role in Sikoa’s WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at SummerSlam.
Jacob Fatu’s WWE Return
Unfortunately, Fatu’s high-risk offense backfired at SummerSlam when he dove off the top rope onto Cody Rhodes, who was sprawled on the announcer’s table at ringside. Fatu connected, but it was immediately apparent that something went wrong. He was writhing in pain, assisted backstage by WWE officials, and later spotted wearing a protective boot on his foot in the hours following the event.
According to PWInsider, Jacob Fatu is scheduled to return to WWE television by the end of this month. This is excellent news because a more serious diagnosis could have necessitated surgery, derailed storylines, and jeopardized his future mobility. Fatu and Tonga won’t have to surrender the tag titles, and The Bloodline will have ‘all hands on deck’ as they deal with Roman Reigns, the recently returned Original Tribal Chief (OTC).
Powerhouse Hobbs has long been touted as a future AEW World Champion. A match against Bobby Lashley would not only be a hard-hitting affair but could also serve as a major turning point in Hobbs’ career.
Hobbs, who has been struggling with creative direction in AEW, could find new momentum by facing a decorated veteran like Lashley.
This clash could also potentially set the stage for faction warfare, especially if Lashley reunites with MVP and Shelton Benjamin in AEW, creating an intense rivalry with the Don Callis Family.
2. Bobby Lashley vs. Swerve Strickland
A Clash of Styles
Swerve Strickland is one of AEW’s most dynamic and unpredictable talents. His innovative in-ring style would mesh well with Lashley’s power and aggression, making for a compelling match between the ropes.
The contrast between Strickland’s agility and Lashley’s brute strength could create a unique showdown that highlights both competitors.
A win for either man would solidify their position in AEW’s hierarchy, making this a must-see encounter, likely after Swerve has lost the AEW Championship.
3. Bobby Lashley vs. Darby Allin
The Ultimate Underdog Story
Darby Allin has made a career out of defying the odds, and a match against Bobby Lashley would be the ultimate underdog story.
Lashley’s overwhelming power against Allin’s resilience and never-say-die attitude would tell a captivating story in the ring.
Allin attempting to survive the onslaught of one of wrestling’s most physically imposing figures could establish Lashley as a threat in All Elite early on and this match could easily become one of AEW’s most memorable David vs. Goliath encounters.
WWE RAW Superstar Chad Gable recently sat down with the Insight podcast to discuss a variety of topics. Gable re-signed with WWE earlier this year and has been a prominent player on Monday Night Raw throughout 2024.
On The Wyatt Sicks
As of late, Gable has run afoul of the Wyatt Sicks and was seen motionless and bleeding from the head when the group arrived on the main roster. This led some to joke that Gable had been killed off. On the podcast, Gable said the reaction from fans was “insane” and recalled a young fan approaching him about being ‘killed’ while at church.
“He’s like ‘Where did it [the wound] go?’ I’m like, ‘Well, I mean, I fixed it bud, I went to the hospital and stuff, it was bad.’ And he’s like ‘What did they do to you?’ I’m like, ‘You’ll have to tune in tomorrow night.'”
On Bray Wyatt
The Wyatt Sicks is obviously inspired heavily by Bray Wyatt who tragically passed away in August of last year. Gable recalled working with the the three-time WWE World Champion upon joining WWE’s main roster in 2016.
“I learned a lot from Bray in that time and just gained the utmost respect for him. Because he’s one of those guys that when he speaks his mind or gives you feedback you listen. Nothing he says feels like he’s just saying it.”
On Not Having A Bad Match
Gable has been commended among fans and his peers as a reliable athlete who is seemingly incapable of having a bad match. This “feather in my cap” is one Gable takes immense pride in as he intends to give his best no matter his position.
“[A match] could only be like 90 seconds or two minutes at times. Some people might write that off and be like, well, it’s just a two-minute match, let’s just go do it. It’s like no, man, I have two minutes tonight, let’s see just how good we can make two minutes.”
On Kurt Angle Comparisons
With a background in Olympic wrestling and an unbridled intensity in the ring, Gable has often found himself being compared to Kurt Angle. Speaking on the podcast, Gable said it was an “honor” to have his name mentioned alongside WWE’s first Olympic Gold Medalist.
“Kurt is the man dude, he’s been so cool. throughout everything we’ve done with him. I got to wrestle him, which was insane.”
On Shorty G
In 2019, Gable’s character was dramatically changed and much was made of his height. The unpopular changes also saw Gable’s name be changed to Shorty G, a name change that on-screen was presented as Gable’s own idea. The storyline came at a “low point” for Gable, who at the time was desperate for any opportunity on WWE TV. Thankfully, Gable’s time as Shorty G would end, and he believes it showed WWE that he was a team player.
“I did the most I could with it. I think what it showed was that I am willing to contribute in whatever manner, if it’s down here, or up here, I’m willing to contribute whatever I can and whatever is asked of me.”
On Not Holding Singles Gold
For all his years with WWE, Gable has yet to hold a singles championship, a fact alluded to during his IC Title pursuit and feud with GUNTHER. The Olympian is hopeful that singles gold will soon be his and is disappointed that it didn’t happen during his program with Sami Zayn.
“We’ve got one piece of the puzzle left to fill in… it’s still on the table.”
AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland has released a brand new album, mere days ahead of arguably the biggest match of his career. Strickland’s eleven-track album ‘Motion Sickness‘ features Flash Garments and is hosted by DJ Whoo Kid. The album also features his Big Pressure Trill Mix with Westside Gunn and Bun B.
— The Realest Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) August 12, 2024
Strickland’s release comes mere days ahead of his AEW World Championship match with Bryan Danielson at All In: London 2024. For Strickland, the first male African American AEW World Champion, the match will be his biggest title defense to date with tens of thousands of fans expected to fill Wembley Stadium.
When not making history in the ring, Swerve Strickland performs as part of the hip-hop group Swerve City and also performs solo as Swerve the Realest. Earlier this month, Strickland released a music video for Big Pressure Trill Mix. The video blends Strickland’s passion for music and wrestling and sees the reigning AEW World Champion with his title.
Strickland’s multi-faceted efforts in entertainment have enamored him to wrestling fans and hip-hop fans alike. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Swerve Strickland
AEW has had eight World Champions in the company’s history. From 2019 to now, there have been some big names holding the World Championship at the pinnacle of All Elite Wrestling, but who is the best and who is the worst?
Here, we rank seven of the Champions up to Swerve Strickland, as it is unfair to rank his run fairly yet until it has finished. So, here are the AEW World Champions ranked from worst to best.
AEW Champs Ranked
7. CM Punk: A Controversial Reign
Number of Reigns: 2 Combined Length of Reigns: 90 days Best Defense: vs Jon Moxley, All Out 2022
CM Punk’s time as AEW World Champion was marked by both triumph and turmoil. His return to wrestling was highly anticipated, but injuries and backstage drama cut his reign at the top of AEW short. Despite the controversies, his feud and subsequent match with Jon Moxley at All Out remains a highlight of his run in the company.
6. Samoa Joe: A Dominant Presence
Number of Reigns: 1 Combined Length of Reigns: 113 days Best Defense: vs Adam Page and Swerve Strickland, Revolution 2024
Samoa Joe’s reign, though brief, was impactful. His matches were intense, and his promo work remained solid at a time that the company really needed at the time.
5. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page: The Anxious Millennial Cowboy
Number of Reigns: 1 Combined Length of Reigns: 197 days Best Defense: vs Bryan Danielson, Winter is Coming 2021
Adam Page’s journey to the top was a story of perseverance and his victory over Kenny Omega was a defining moment for AEW.
However, his reign was somewhat overshadowed by the issues stemming from his on and off screen issues with CM Punk.
4. MJF: The Reign of a Heel
Number of Reigns: 1 Combined Length of Reigns: 406 days Best Defense: vs Bryan Danielson, Revolution 2023
MJF is the longest-reigning champion in AEW history as of writing, known for his cutting promos and psychological warfare against his challengers.
His reign featured some of the best matches in AEW to date, including an epic Iron Man match against Danielson.
3. Chris Jericho: The Inaugural Champion
AEW World Champion Chris Jericho
Number of Reigns: 1 Combined Length of Reigns: 182 days Best Defense: vs Cody, Full Gear 2019
Chris Jericho was the first AEW World Champion, bringing legitimacy and star power to the-then brand new title.
His reign laid the foundation for AEW’s success, though his popularity has waned in recent years due to backstage allegations and claims from some fans of him being a “talent vortex” and stopping the pushes of young talents.
2. Kenny Omega: The Best Bout Machine
AEW World Champion Kenny Omega
Number of Reigns: 1 Combined Length of Reigns: 346 days Best Defense: vs Orange Cassidy and PAC, Double or Nothing 2021
Kenny Omega’s reign is often considered the pinnacle of AEW’s success so far and the most exceptional that the in-ring product has been.
His run as champion included some of the most memorable matches in the company’s history, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest AEW World Champions to date.
1. Jon Moxley: The Ace of AEW
(via AEW)
Number of Reigns: 3 Combined Length of Reigns: 347 days Best Defense: vs Mr. Brodie Lee, Double or Nothing 2020
Despite Omega having such an incredible run, Jon Moxley has been AEW’s go-to champion in times of crisis, holding the title a record three times.
His gritty, hardcore style and fierce rivalries have made him a cornerstone of the promotion, and he has to be considered the greatest top title holder they have had thus far in the company.
The first WWE Bad Blood PLE in over two decades could be a night of surprises if Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes is to be believed. The show will take place on October 5, from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. It will be WWE’s fourth Bad Blood event and the first show under the name since June 2004.
Speaking with Variety, Rhodes shared his excitement for Bad Blood, which will mark WWE’s first PLE in Atlanta since Day 1 2022, and Rhodes’ first PLE in his hometown since returning to WWE. The American Nightmare also teased some surprises in store for the October event.
“Atlanta has always influenced culture… Bad Blood could be the biggest Premium Live Event since WrestleMania and we have some surprises in store.”
“As a lifelong fan of the WWE it was an honor to work with the legend and undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes… Cody’s story is inspiring to me, as I’m sure it is to millions of others.”
No matches have been confirmed for WWE Bad Blood 2024, though many fans are predicting a Hell in a Cell match. The three previous events in the show’s history have all featured matches in the barbaric structure with Triple H winning two of those three matches (and having an outside role in the other.) Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on WWE Bad Blood and the career of Cody Rhodes as WWE’s top name.
It’s been over 20 years since the original ECW closed its doors, but Paul Heyman still remembers his time with the promotion very fondly. Speaking to Newsweek this week, the WWE Hall of Famer and former owner of ECW recalled his time leading the tribe of extreme.
“Every single day of it was just an honor and a blessing and a dream job.”
Heyman’s tenure with ECW turned the promotion from an Eastern-based territory to a violent, counterculture, cult-followed entity that was among the three biggest promotions in its heyday. In 2001, ECW closed its doors in the face of immense financial strain. Heyman would depart the company shortly before the company went under and would appear as a WWF commentator, replacing Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler.
Paul Heyman Today
These days, Heyman remains part of WWE and his influence has bolstered talent from CM Punk to Brock Lesnar to Roman Reigns. Speaking about what’s to come in wrestling, Heyman was optimistic about the future.
“An era more of continued transparency. Intelligent discussion of the product itself. Authenticity, in terms of the characters. And just great stories.”
Heyman hasn’t appeared on WWE TV since being attacked by Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline, though he was backstage at SummerSlam and was seen conversing with Roman Reigns. This has led fans to speculate that Heyman’s return is imminent, though Reigns was by his own on last week’s SmackDown. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on Paul Heyman as the ECW magnate continues to be am important figure in wrestling.
Drew McIntyre has shown off some of the wounds from his latest collision with CM Punk that unfolded during this week’s Monday Night RAW. During the show, McIntyre was told that Punk had travel issues and was not at the venue. Later on, McIntyre interrupted a segment between GUNTHER and Randy Orton and teased a feud with the Viper. During this segment, Punk, who later admitted to lying about his travel issues, ambushed his nemesis from behind.
On social media, McIntyre shared the consequences of his latest showdown with the Best in the World. Despite his scars, McIntyre remains in possession of the bracelet featuring the names of CM Punk’s wife AJ Lee and their dog Larry.
This latest attack has led fans to speculate on a potential strap match between McIntyre and CM Punk, possibly at the upcoming WWE Bash In Berlin Premium Live Event on August 31. The event will mark WWE’s first PLE in Germany and take place from the Uber Arena. A WWE SmackDown taping will take place from the Uber Arena on the Friday before Bash In Berlin.
CM Punk and Drew McIntyre have been adversaries throughout 2024 ever since McIntyre took credit for injuring Punk in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. Since then, the two have delivered beatdowns upon one another and Punk has cost McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship a number of times. McIntyre may have won at SummerSlam, but their feud is clearly far from over. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for the latest on this deeply personal rivalry unfolding on WWE RAW.
Eric Bischoff has found a new career in the mortgage industry as per Conrad Thompson. It has come to light that the pro wrestling veteran has launched his career as a mortgage loan officer.
Thompson, who has thrived in the mortgage industry had assembled a team of talented members and built his Save with Conrad company. However, he soon linked with pro wrestling through his podcasts which further put his company in the limelight. He then added Eric Bischoff to his 83 Weeks show podcast.
Thompson told Justin Barrasso Sports Illustrated that Eric Bischoff was ready for a new adventure and detailed how the WWE Hall of Famer got into the mortgage industry. He revealed:
“Eric knew that I did mortgages, and he was looking to do a refinance. We took a stab at it, came up with a plan, and found a way to help him, as he puts it, change his life. When we’d do the podcast together, he would heap praise on me for saving him a boatload of money. That’s when Eric became enamored with the idea of helping people in a similar way.”
Eric Bischoff wants to help people
Thompson added that Bischoff didn’t want anyone to know about his new project and he loved the idea of helping people, similar to how Thompson did. The 69-year-old managed to pass a test that had a high failure rate and got licensed. Thompson decided to hire Eric Bischoff as a mortgage loan officer and he made it clear this is the real side of the veteran who is motivated and genuinely wants to help people. He said:
“He doesn’t need this to pay the bills, he’s doing it because he wants to,” said Thompson. “I know he played a bad guy on TV, but that was TV. This is real-life. And the real-life Eric Bischoff is hungry and motivated to help people.“
Bischoff is connecting with people while working in his office at his home in Wyoming. He excited to help people and some might turn out to be wrestling fans who are familiar with him. He said:
“It’s wrestling fans responding to Conrad’s advertisements, and if a wrestling fan is calling about a new home or a refinance, they’re familiar with me. They’re excited to get a call from me. I’m excited to help them. If I can save someone money every month just by seeing the bigger financial picture, that’s extremely rewarding. It’s made a very profound impression on me.”
After a decorated pro wrestling career, Bischoff continues to help several people and remains eager to make a new impact in the mortgage field.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker has been on a meteoric rise since joining the WWE main roster. Before the transition, he made his name on the company’s developmental brand NXT. He has revealed how he had to adjust to the changing circumstances.
WWE has a hectic touring schedule and it can be daunting for the newer talents on the main roster. Breakker told TV Insider that adjusting to the habit of being on the road was his biggest challenge after joining the main roster. He said:
“Getting in the habit of being on the road, you get in a nice rhythm. Then it becomes fun and a really good time. You get to see different towns and cities and stuff so that part is cool.”
During the interview, the youngster revealed that CM Punk and Paul Heyman helped with his transition to the main roster. He said:
“It has been a combination of a lot of people. Paul Heyman is someone who has been a crucial hand in me on the main roster. CM Punk as well. So many people. The whole locker room has been so helpful in some form or fashion. Since being up here, it has been great to be a part of everything.”
Bron Breakker, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Rick Steiner has been dominant ever since he joined the company three years back. The powerhouse immediately impressed the fans with his feat of strength and agility. The 2-time NXT Champion was called up to the main roster earlier this year and since then he has been on the ascent.
WWE legend John Cena is determined to hang up his boots and he has made it clear that no amount of money could change his mind. He has now shared some more details on his upcoming retirement tour.
During the Jackpot! promotion, Cena told ComicBook that he has built a trustworthy relationship with the fans over the years and the 16-time World Champion is a man of his word. His decorated in-ring career will culminate in December 2025 and said that even if he is offered a huge sum of money, he will still retire. He said:
“There isn’t a check writer with enough money to change my mind when I hang it up in December. I don’t want to continue for ego or financial gain. I built a relationship of trust and authenticity over the years with the WWE, and that’s people who think I suck and people who believe in me, they know that I shoot them straight and I’m trustworthy. I mean what I say: when I’m done in December, I am done. It is the last time I will perform in a ring.”
Cena, who has had a legendary career said that he wants to try something special for his farewell tour and go through the memories of 25 long years. He said:
“It truly is the last time for generations for grandparents and parents and kids to get together in the same time. Grandparents could be like, ‘I didn’t know about wrestling and my son dragged me here.’ That son now has a son and daughter of their own, and they like John Cena, and now their kid likes Cody Rhodes. I want to try to do something special where we can all get together one last time and, and go through 25 years worth of memories.”
John Cena’s post-wrestling career
Following his retirement, Cena is planning to continue to represent WWE. However, he will take up an ambassadorial role.
“I’ll be a member of the WWE family as an ambassador and a grateful one. But you will see me wear this (points to suit), not the wristbands, the jorts, the ball cap. That, in December 2025, that goes away, and that’s the reason why we’re putting so much equity and emphasis on this farewell tour.”
John Cena returned at this year’s Money In The Bank PLE last month and announced his retirement tour. While Cena plans to retire soon, he is thriving in his acting career. Fans can witness him in Jackpot!, an action comedy directed by Paul Feig coming to Prime Video on Thursday, August 15th.
The AEW American Champion was recently interviewed by Jack the Jobber of Cultaholic during his UK trip to compete against Michael Oku of RevPro. They talked about things such as the reported Britt Baker incident and more.
During the talk, Jake mentioned how MJF has named Roddy Piper and CM Punk as people he was a fan of during his childhood. When asked who else he looked up to before becoming a wrestler himself, the Salt of The Earth named The Cenation leader. Though only during his Doctor of Thuganomics days:
“John Cena was a fat head on my wall when he was rapping. Then he stopped the rapping and he started being very nice and I didn’t care for it.”
When Jake talked about Cena burying his fellow countryman Wade Barrett under a pile of steel chairs during their 2010 TLC match, MJF actually defended the 16-time world champion. He mentioned how the former Nexus leader was always attacking him:
“Well okay I’m not one to defend my, first of all my good friend John. I don’t know if you’ve seen it but he puts me over all the time in interviews, as he should. I’m a generational Talent. Generational talents you know, know generational talents when they see one.
I think we can all agree that your people are rude and abrasive and loud and obnoxious and very arrogant. Wade was constantly attacking him with multiple people which again is something your guys do. You never try to have a fight one-on-one. Your friends always drunkenly jump in right. So I feel John was just defending himself and his country in that moment.”
MJF is currently scheduled to defend his AEW American Championship against Will Ospreay at the 2024 All In Event from Wembley stadium on August 25.
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry made his return to programming on this week’s RAW alongside his Next-In-Line athlete son Jacob. The father/son duo were highlighted in the crowd during this week’s show that took place in Austin, Texas.
For Mark Henry, this week’s Raw marked his return to WWE programming after a three-year absence. Henry’s previous appearance on RAW was as part of the Legends Night special of the red brand in January 2021. In May of that year, he debuted for All Elite Wrestling where he served as a commentator and coach. His time with Tony Khan’s first promotion ended in May of this year.
Jacob Henry in WWE
Expectations are high for Jacob Henry and his potential future in WWE could see more appearances by his legendary father. As for Mark, he recently shared that he has become a booker and ‘director’ for the All Caribbean Wrestling promotion. The promotion is set to work with Major League Wrestling soon, Henry told TMZ Sports last month.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Mark and Jacob Henry and their potential futures with WWE.
Sami Zayn offered some big praise to Bron Breakker after this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw from Moody Center in Austin, Texas went off air.
The wrestling veteran evoked his rematch clause for the Intercontinental Championship on the Red Branded Show this week after his SummerSlam loss earlier this month.
The two out of three falls match was the main event of the show. Sami got the early pin on Breakker at the start of the bout but the IC Champion came back and scored a pin to even the numbers.
The ending of the match saw Sami hitting the Helluva Kick but Bron kicked out. Zayn then went on the top but Breakker caught him mid-air with a spear out of nowhere to score the final pin and retain the title.
Sami Zayn stayed in the ring after the episode went off air and received an ovation from the crowd. The 40-year-old cut a promo saying that Bron has the potential to become the face of the company:
The star-studded episode of Raw featured some interesting developments. Rhea Ripley opened the show and Dominik Mysterio explained that he turned on The Mami because she was trying to change her.
The show also featured a confrontation between Randy Orton and Gunther. Drew McIntyre who was not happy about Orton getting a title shot tried to interrupt the two but CM Punk blindsided him before he could reach the ring.
Orton took the opportunity and delivered an RKO to the World Heavyweight Champion. Meanwhile CM Punk continued beating McIntyre and he took out the Scottish Warrior with a belt to end the segment.
More has come to light about AJ Styles after the Phenomenal One did not appear as expected during the August 9, edition of SmackDown. In the days before the show, it was reported that Styles would be appearing. The two-time former WWE Champion hasn’t appeared on WWE programming since his loss to Cody Rhodes at WWE Clash At The Castle: Scotland in June.
The August 9, SmackDown came and went without an appearance by AJ Styles. PW Insider reports that despite his absence from the show, Styles is still slated to return to WWE storylines before the Bash in Berlin Premium Live Event on August 31.
As for not returning last week, the final decision was that with creative plans locked in, last week was not the right week to bring him back. The decision to keep Styles from the show was made on Wednesday or Thursday, the report adds. It is noted that Styles will “be back shortly.”
Styles Off of WWE TV
While AJ Styles hasn’t competed on WWE programming since June, he’s not been entirely absent from the ring. The former World Champion competed at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Destination event where he defeated Naomichi Marufuji. This match marked Styles’ return to Japan after years away and his in-ring debut for NAOH.
Styles was also part of WWE’s recent tour of Japan, the company’s first since 2019. After the tour, AJ teased that it could be his final time competing in Japan, as he said that fans may have seen the last time he wore a mask, something he always does for his entrances in Japan.
