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The Rock Presented With the ‘People’s Championship’ At WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony

Thomas Lowson
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The Rock may not have the people on his side anymore, but he was presented with a custom ‘People’s Championship’ at the WWE Hall of Fame 2024 ceremony. 

The Final Boss was at the ceremony to posthumously induct his grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of this year’s class. Before this induction though, The Rock was invited to the ring by Lonnie Ali, the widow of the legendary Muhammad Ali. Lonnie spoke about The Rock asking for permission to use the term ‘People’s Champion,’ a moniker that had often been associated with the boxing icon. Lonnie then presented The Rock with the People’s Championship which features the Brahma Bull logo. 

Who Has Been Called the People’s Champion? 

While Ali and The Rock have been known as the People’s Champion, they’re not the only individuals to have been bestowed with that moniker. In World Championship Wrestling, ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page was referred to as the People’s Champion before the name was given to The Rock. During an Inside the Ropes event, Page recalled discussing the name with the Brahma Bull. 

“I hear, ‘Hey Diamond’… he says, ‘You know, there’s only one people’s champion’… I just look at him, took that pregnant pause and said, ‘you know, Rock, you’re right… And you, well, you’re looking at him‘.”

There have also been ‘People’s Champions’ outside the world of wrestling. In addition to Ali, boxers Michael Spiknks and Manny Pacquiao have used the moniker. Cricketer Usman Khawaja, Snooker player Alex Higgins, and Basketball player Will Barton have also used the term.

Kevin Owens Doesn’t Care About CM Punk’s Return: ‘We’re Not Each Other’s Type of Person’

Thomas Lowson
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Kevin Owens is “perfectly fine” with CM Punk’s return to WWE as the two do not have any kind of working relationship in the world of professional wrestling. 

Punk returned to WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames 2023 in an act that immediately sparked discussions about whether he could co-exist with the roster. Speaking to the Gorilla Position podcast, Owens was asked for his thoughts on Punk’s return. 

“Well, we have no relationship. No, we’re not each other’s type of people I don’t think. There’s a ten-foot vicinity that if we enter in, then we have to kinda ‘Hey. Hi.’ Otherwise, we just don’t, and it’s fine. It’s perfectly fine.”

Since Punk’s return, there’s been a lot of talk about how the Best in the World has changed since walking out of WWE in 2014, with Triple H making clear Punk had changed during the post-Survivor Series press conference. When asked if he’s noticed a change, Owens was curt with his response.

“I don’t know that and I don’t care, to be honest. I am who I am. He is who he is, and it’s fine that way.”

CM Punk’s Return

While Owens may not care one bit about CM Punk’s return to WWE, his unlikely comeback has had a lot of people talking. So far, reports about Punk’s conduct in WWE have been glowing, with the ex-AEW star being open to ideas and eager to help at the WWE Performance Center.

Last month, Booker T claimed that he and CM Punk had a ‘run-in’ at a WWE NXT taping. Many were skeptical of the claim given that nobody saw the alleged altercation and given Punk’s exemplary track record since returning. Booker quickly said after his initial claim that fans were making too big a deal of things. Booker later admitted that this was his attempt at “clickbait” and he was “just playing around.”

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

The Rock Gets Into Verbal Altercation With Fan At WWE Hall of Fame 2024 Ceremony

Thomas Lowson
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The 2024 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony saw some controversy towards the end as The Rock had a verbal altercation with a fan in attendance. 

The Brahma Bull was on hand to posthumously induct his grandmother Lia Maivia into the WWE Hall of Fame. In the closing moments of the show, however, The Rock could be seen having a tense face-off with a fan who was in the front row. 

The fan told the Final Boss that “Cody’s coming for you,” referencing Cody Rhodes’ efforts to ‘finish the story’ at WWE WrestleMania 40. The Rock told the fan to “watch your f***ing mouth.” 

You can check out another perspective of the altercation in the tweet below: 

Lia Maivia is the third person that The Rock has inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. In 2008, on the eve of WrestleMania 24, The Rock inducted his father Rocky Johnson, and his grandfather (and Lia’s husband) ‘High Chief’ Peter Maivia. 

This interaction with the fan highlights The Rock’s heel persona which has been a hit with audiences since WWE decided to turn him into a villain. The character change has also been praised by those who know the Brahma Bull best. 

The Rock at WrestleMania 40

Cody Rhodes hopes to ‘finish the story’ at WrestleMania 40 but The Rock is planning on ruining the American Nightmare’s weekend. On WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes will team with Seth Rollins to face The Rock & Roman Reigns. The match will determine the stipulation for the following night. 

On WWE WrestleMania 40: Sunday, Cody Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. This match will either be under ‘Bloodline Rules’ or see the Bloodline banned from getting involved. No matter the stipulation, this match will be Cody’s final title shot at Reigns, an edict put in place by The Rock. The Final Boss flexed his muscles as part of TKO’s Board of Directors to make this stipulation happen. 

AEW’s Keith Lee Makes Accidental Appearance At WWE Hall of Fame 2024

Thomas Lowson
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It’s been years since Keith Lee was signed to a WWE contract, but the Limitless One was spotted this week during the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony. 

The former NXT Champion and current AEW star was in the background of a backstage segment that saw CM Punk being interviewed by Kayla Braxton. It appears that somebody off-screen pointed out to Lee that he was in the shot as the wrestler quickly got out of the way. 

Lee’s real-life wife and WWE star ‘Michin’ Mia Yim was being interviewed across the backstage area by WWE’s Cathy Kelley.

This humorous situation led to Lee’s name trending on X (formerly known as Twitter.) Some fans even compared it to a similar situation where Road Warrior Hawk accidentally appeared during a backstage interview and quickly realized his mistake. 

Keith Lee

In WWE NXT, Lee captured the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship and is to date the only Superstar to hold both titles simultaneously. Lee had far worse luck on the main roster and after a strong debut, would miss months of programming due to COVID-19 and heart inflammation. He was released from WWE in November 2021. 

Lee joined AEW in March 2022 at that month’s Revolution pay-per-view and captured the AEW World Tag Team Championships with Swerve Strickland that July. Their reign was ended by The Acclaimed that September. A match between Lee and Strickland was scheduled to happen at AEW Worlds End in December 2023. Lee has been out of action since December 2023 and is currently recovering from double surgeries that he underwent in January 2024.

WWE WrestleMania Match Changed During 4/5 Go-Home SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania kicks off tomorrow, but it’s not too late to change the show of shows. This week’s SmackDown saw a big change for the LWO’s tag team match.

Dragon Lee was supposed to team with Rey Mysterio to take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at WrestleMania 40. Then, this week’s show saw Dragon Lee get taken out with a backstage attack.

Andrade, who initially appeared to align with Dominik and Santos, turned on the heels to join the babyfaces. This was a big moment as it put Zelina Vega and Andrade on the same side once again.

It was later revealed that Dragon Lee will not be able to compete at WrestleMania 40. Since Lee was not medically cleared, Andrade agreed to take his place. Carlito entered the scene after that with the news that Dragon Lee couldn’t compete, but he was already too late to get in the match. Instead, Carlito told Andrade to take out Santos Escobar at WrestleMania 50.

Now, Andrade and Rey Mysterio will take on Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio at the showcase of the immortals. 

You can check out the WrestleMania 40 Card below

  • Night 1 Matches:
    1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
    2. Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
    3. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
    4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
    5. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
    6. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Andrade) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
    7. The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
  • Night 2 Matches:
    1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
    2. Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
    3. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
    4. Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
    5. The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
    6. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)

Bronson Reed Wins 10th Annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal On 4/5 WWE SmackDown

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania 40 is a loaded show, so they held the annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the go-home SmackDown episode.

The 10th annual Andre the Giant Battle Royal was the first match on this week’s episode of SmackDown. The Wells Fargo Center was pumped to get things going. In the end, Bronson Reed won the big match to kick off WrestleMania weekend the right way from the big man from Australia.

Bronson Reed, Omos and Ricochet received special entrances, while all the other Superstars were in the ring already. Omos made his way to the ring last, and he had MVP with him.

Andrade, Ricochet, Chad Gable, Bronson Reed, Shinsuke Nakamura, Omos, Brutus Creed, Julius Creed, Ivar, Akira Tozawa, Otis, JD McDonagh, Apollo Crews, Veer, Sanga, Cameron Grimes, Kit Wilson, Elton Prince, Ashante Adonis, and Cedric Alexander were some of the participants in the match.

In the end, Bronson Reed and Ivar were the two final contestants. The two battled as fans chanted “meat.” Ivar missed a moonsault from the top rope, and then Reed nailed a rolling senton before clotheslining him over the top rope to secure the win.

Previous Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Winners

Bronson Reed’s name now joins a list of former winners, some of them are future WWE Hall of Famers.

The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner list includes a few notable names. Sadly, the big win doesn’t always translate into a massive push. Past winners include: Cesaro, Big Show, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy, Braun Strowman, Jey Uso, Madcap Moss, and Bobby Lashley.

Brandon Tate Of The Boys Combats Tony Khan’s Reason For Their AEW Release

Aaron Varble
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AEW recently released several names from its roster, including Brent and Brandon Tate, known as ‘The Boys.’ Their departures surprised fans, especially considering their involvement in the ongoing storyline between Dalton Castle and Johnny TV.

At the ROH Supercard of Honor press event, Tony Khan disclosed that the Tates had been absent from work on multiple occasions. This prompted Khan to release them, though he emphasized the difficulty of this decision.

Khan clarified that these releases were part of AEW’s careful budget management, ensuring resources are available to pursue top talent in the industry.

Brandon Tate, who previously denied Tony Khan’s story, but he deleted that tweet, has now responded with a lengthy story. He told all about the Twins’ time in AEW, and what led to the alleged story around them no-showing events.

He said that The Twins had initially intended to maintain silence regarding their release from AEW, in order to avoid overshadowing the significance of the upcoming ROH Supercard event. However, following Tony Khan’s remarks and the overwhelming support from fans, media outlets, friends, and colleagues, they felt compelled to address the situation publicly.

Brandon Tate and his brother were informed that they would be prominently featured in the storyline leading up to Supercard, alongside Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie. They were encouraged to pitch ideas for their characters, suggesting that they would have opportunities to showcase their wrestling abilities in the future.

However, on March 16th, the scheduled date following a storyline development, which involved Dalton Castle losing custody, they encountered an unprecedented change in their travel arrangements. Instead of departing from their home airport in Knoxville, their travel was booked out of Nashville. This departure from their usual travel pattern, which previously involved Sinclair ROH and now Tony Khan’s ROH, raised questions and concerns.

He said the next thing that took place was their release. They were told they were let go due to budget cuts, with no mention of them no-showing any event.

On Monday April 1st, we were contacted by management accompanied by HR on a call to inform us of our release due to “budget cuts.” At that time we raised concerns and repeatedly questioned if the release was due to the travel issues, we were repeatedly and adamantly assured that this was not the case and based solely on budget cuts. Since Tony’s statement, we reached out yesterday providing the specific details asking for Tony to clear this up. We have gotten no response. Unfortunately in the court or public opinion for a lot of people commenting, it’s assumed that we’re guilty from 1 man’s words until we now have to prove we’re not.

https://twitter.com/tatetwinbrandon/status/1776330031536488749

AEW’s Recent Signings

It was a very interesting turn of events to see AEW release so many names from their roster. This came after Tony Khan stated for so long that he intends on fulfilling any contract he signs.

AEW has just inked big contracts with Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay, and Mercedes Mone. That was followed by some cuts. We will have to see if Tony Khan has any response to Brandon Tate, but he’s been radio silent for now.

In the end, those released names were The Boys, Dasha Gonzolaz, Jose The Assistant, Jora Johl, Anthony Henry, Gravity, Stu Grayson, Parker Boudreaux, and Slim J. You may find an updated list of AEW’s 2024 releases here with our tracker.

Brandi Rhodes Reacts To Cody’s Bus Catching Fire Before WrestleMania

Aaron Varble
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Cody Rhodes is set for the biggest match of his career at WrestleMania 40. That being said, he doesn’t need any distractions, let alone his bus catching fire, but that is exactly what happened.

The American Nightmare updated fans to let them know that his bus caught fire last night in Philadelphia. Everyone seems to be fine, but he was able to grab a couple of things before making it off the bus.

Cody Rhodes dropped a message on Twitter/X to update his fans. He also wanted to make sure that they heard it from him first. He also thanks the Philly fire department for their prompt response.

Before you hear it elsewhere – my tour bus caught fire last night. Everybody is safe and okay The 2 items I grabbed before I got off will probably pop wrestling fans Again, thank you @PhillyFireDept

Brandi Rhodes commented to say that this incident was one “hell of a curveball.” Obviously, they were not expecting something like a bus fire to be involved in their WrestleMania week plans.

Cody Rhodes’ WrestleMania 40 Plans

Cody Rhodes will wrestle twice at WrestleMania 40. The American Nightmare will team up with Seth Rollins to take on The Rock and Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania on April 6.

If the heel team wins, then it will be Bloodline rules for the Undisputed Universal Title match on April 7. If Cody and Seth are able to win, then the Bloodline will be barred from ringside.

You can check out the WrestleMania 40 Card below

  • Night 1 Matches:
    1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
    2. Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
    3. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
    4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
    5. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
    6. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
    7. The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
  • Night 2 Matches:
    1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
    2. Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
    3. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
    4. Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
    5. The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
    6. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)

Triple H Confirms Another WWE Draft is Soon

Aaron Varble
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WWE is known to mix things up after WrestleMania with a draft, and this year will be no exception. Another edition of the WWE Draft is coming soon enough.

While appearing on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast, Triple H confirmed that the WWE Draft will be coming back. He said that fans will see if again in a couple of months.

Right now, the 2024 WWE Draft is planned for sometime in May. It was May 1 in 2023, so they are right on schedule if that is the case.

This year’s WrestleMania and WWE Hall of Fame saw Triple H book his first events without Vince McMahon’s input. That will also be the case for the upcoming WWE Draft.

WWE will likely wait until their Saudi Arabia trip is out of the way before implementing a new draft. We will have to see what they decide to do when it comes to timing.

WWE Draft History

The draft was first started in 2002 alongside the introduction of the brand split. Over the years, it was further renamed as the WWE Brand Extension Draft in 2006 and eventually simplified to the WWE Draft from 2007 to 2011.

Now, fans get the WWE Draft every year as a way to mix up the rosters. The company is also known to proclaim several Superstars as “free agents,” meaning they can pop into any brand where they can be of most use.

WWE is known to surprise fans with their yearly draft. Now with three brands in the mix, that can also mean that main roster call-ups are in store for NXT Superstars. 

Drew McIntyre Trains With AEW Wrestler Ahead of WrestleMania

Bishal Roy
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Drew McIntyre is going the extra mile in preparation for his upcoming battle against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ was spotted doing a workout session in the gym with none other than AEW star Brian Cage.

We are just a few days away from what is being billed as ‘The Biggest WrestleMania Ever’ and Drew McIntyre is pushing himself in the gym. The former WWE Champion took to his Twitter/X account and dropped a video clip of a bench press session with Brian Cage being the spotter. McIntyre said that it was his last chest workout session before ‘The Show of Shows’. His caption read: 

“It’s #WrestleMania week and the beast has been let out the CAGE.”  

Brian Cage took note of the post and replied to McIntyre:

Drew McIntyre and Brian Cage in gym

Drew McIntyre is set to challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ has overcome a lot of hindrances on his way to this weekend’s high-stakes match. He outlasted five other competitors to win the 2024 Elimination Chamber match and secured his title opportunity.

He has been involved in a rivalry with CM Punk as well. From time to time, McIntyre has taken shots at ‘The Second City Saviour.’ Notably, CM Punk was the original challenger planned for ‘The Visionary’ at WrestleMania 40. But those plans were nixed when Punk suffered a torn tricep at the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match and it came upon as a blessing in disguise for McIntyre.

Drew McIntyre’s future 

Fans are buzzing about his future. Though McIntyre is set for a huge match at WrestleMania 40, it’s quite interesting that his contract with WWE is running out soon. A new deal hasn’t been inked yet which means he could be a top free agent on the market shortly. 

AEW has been the preferred destination for the free agents in recent memory. It will be no surprise if Tony Khan splurges a massive sum of money to rope in ‘The Scottish Warrior’ similar to how he has signed stars such as Adam Copeland, Mercedes Mone, and Kazuchika Okada. 

Well, all that depends on what McIntyre wants in the future. Will it be WWE? or AEW? Only time will tell.

AJ Styles Would Love To Step In The Ring With CM Punk Despite Past Animosity

Bishal Roy
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0

AJ Styles has expressed his eagerness to battle CM Punk despite ‘expecting a problem’ after the latter’s return to WWE.

‘The Phenomenal One’ was asked to share his thoughts on CM Punk’s return to WWE during his interview on The Ringer Wrestling Show. Styles admitted that he predicted it would be a problem to have his former rival in WWE but all seems well. The former WWE Champion further said that he would want to share the ring with Punk. He said:

“I mean, if you know anything about AJ Styles and CM Punk, you would know that we really don’t care for each other. But if you want me to ruin everything that you think you know, I can. Past performance predicts future behavior, right? Some over at AEW are my best friends – love ‘em, trust ‘em, know ‘em. And I was expecting a problem when [Punk] came here – and I was wrong. The guy looks like he’s happy to be here. He looks like a guy that I’d want to step in the ring with and tear the house down with.”

It is no secret that AJ Styles and CM Punk have had a tumultuous relationship since the 2000s. They previously shared the ring when they were a part of the ROH roster but Styles parted ways with the promotion in 2004. That was the last time they battled each other and notably Styles has been vocal about not wanting to face Punk ever again. 

AJ Styles and CM Punk’s involvement in WrestleMania 40

AJ Styles is set to face LA Knight at this weekend’s WrestleMania 40. On the other hand, things haven’t turned out too well for CM Punk lately. ‘The Second City Saint’ scripted one of the historic moments in WWE when he made his comeback at Survivor Series: WarGames PLE last month. Without question, the pro wrestling world was shocked by what transpired in Chicago. He soon gained momentum and seemed that a title shot would be on the cards for WrestleMania 40.

However, he sustained a torn tricep during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match which has kept him on the shelf. But he has made it clear he would be still involved in the ‘Show of Shows’ in some capacity.

With Styles changing his stance and CM Punk returning to the squared circle in the next few months, we could certainly witness the two legends work with each other again.

Xfinity Gets Into WrestleMania 40 Spirit With WWE-Themed Custom Browsing Experience

Thomas Lowson
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Xfinity is getting into the spirit of WWE WrestleMania 40 with new customizable features on its platform ahead of the two-night mega-show. 

WrestleMania 40 will take place on April 6, and April 7, from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. A statement sent to SE Scoops reads: 

In celebration of WrestleMania XL, Xfinity customers with the X1 platform can customize their browse experience with all new WWE themes. Fans can show their support for their favorite WWE Superstars with customized timeline pucks and guide cursors featuring WWE Superstar logos and colors (screenshots attached). Choose from:

Cody Rhodes

The Rock

Roman Reigns

Seth “Freakin” Rollins

Bianca Belair

IYO SKY

The Undisputed WWE Universal Championship

WWE WrestleMania XL

Customers can say “Change my theme,” “WWE” or “WrestleMania” into their X1 voice remote to choose their favorite WWE Superstar theme ahead of WrestleMania XL this weekend.

WWE WrestleMania 40

This year’s WrestleMania will air on Peacock and will also be the final WrestleMania that’ll stream on the standalone WWE Network. From January 2025, the service in various countries will shut down with WWE content moving to Netflix. The show will air on Disney+ Hotstar in Indonesia, Disney+ in the Philippines, Binge in Australia, Abema in Japan, and SonyLIV in India. 

The upcoming two-night event from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field will also be the first of its kind under the TKO banner and with WWE not under the control of the immediate McMahon family. With that said, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque will still oversee the show as the promotion’s Chief Content Officer.

Vince McMahon’s WrestleMania 40 Absence Sparks Sense Of Excitement Within WWE

Aaron Varble
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WWE saw a huge change when Vince McMahon resigned from the company before the 2024 Royal Rumble event. Now, Triple H is holding the book, and this year’s event will mark a huge landmark for the company.

A new report from Fightful Select noted that there is a sense of excitement among WWE talent, described as an “aura of excitement” by one prominent figure, due to Vince McMahon’s absence. While the allegations against McMahon aren’t disregarded, the apprehension of his potential interference has gone away.

Furthermore, McMahon’s absence extends beyond WrestleMania, with sources reportedly suggesting that he isn’t expected to make an appearance at the show at all. There have been instances where McMahon’s presence wasn’t necessarily welcomed in the past.

Looking ahead, WWE’s RAW After Mania also has a sense of excitement surrounding it without McMahon’s influence. Many within the company believe that this year’s RAW After Mania has the potential to be a memorable event, free from McMahon’s last-minute changes that marred previous episodes.

Vince McMahon’s Removal From WWE Creative

McMahon originally retired from WWE after the story about hush money payments broke. Then, he returned to the company a short time later to help usher in a sale.

Leading up to WrestleMania 39, McMahon had reasserted himself within WWE, exerting influence over creative decisions. Despite not directly engaging with the creative team, McMahon’s impact was felt as he would later intervene to alter aspects of the show via zoom or telephone call.

Although McMahon had been absent from shows for several months, he resurfaced during last year’s WrestleMania weekend, reportedly altering the outcome of at least one match. While McMahon had favored Roman Reigns retaining over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 39, this decision had already been finalized beforehand.

However, McMahon’s influence has waned significantly for this year’s WrestleMania, with reports indicating that he no longer has any sway over the event directly or indirectly. Additionally, it’s been noted that McMahon’s focus has shifted towards addressing pressing issues, such as the allegations involving Janel Grant.

Now, Triple H is the Chief Creative Officer, calling the shots on what fans see during the company’s weekly television shows. This includes WrestleMania 40, where Vince McMahon is not expected to be seen at all.

Triple H on Scouting Talent: ‘I Need to See For Myself That They’re Good Enough for WWE’

Thomas Lowson
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WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque insists on seeing a prospective Superstar for himself to see if they’re the right fit for the promotion. 

As part of his many roles as Chief Content Officer, Levesque oversees talent relations and ultimately has the final say over who is hired to a contract. On the Pat McAfee Show, the Game shared why he thinks it’s vital he personally sees a talent’s work for himself. 

“I see what’s out there. I don’t subscribe to, ‘this guy says they are good, that guy says they are good.’ I have to see it… Because they succeed someplace else doesn’t mean they’ll succeed at the big time.”

Levesque compared the situation to football, stating that players who performed at a high level in college often fail to make waves in the NFL. 

Triple H on ‘The Grind’

Being a WWE Superstar is far from an easy job as talent are expected to compete almost every night across the globe. WWE is also not the only option for a young wrestler as various promotions exist in the U.S. and abroad. On the show, Levesque shared his skepticism for any wrestler who’d choose a promotion because it may be easier than WWE. 

“When I see people coming out of trying to make it, and then they pick a job where, well, they work less, the schedule is lighter, then I’m like, ‘I’m glad I didn’t pick you.’ If you’re not in it for the grind, at that point early in your career, you have no business being here.”

Triple H as Head of Talent

In 2011, Levesque was officially made Executive Vice-President of Talent and Live Events, a role that expanded to include live events and creative two years later. In July 2022, following the resignation of Vince McMahon, Levesque was promoted to Executive Vice-President of Talent Relations and was named Chief Content Officer in September. In October 2023, Ari Emanuel ensured that Vince McMahon (who was back with WWE at the time) would not interfere with Levesque’s work and it was said the Game controlled “99.9% of the creative” at the time. 

EXCLUSIVE: Shawn Michaels Explains Why Gallus Was Chosen To Train With The Rock Ahead WWE WrestleMania 40

Aaron Varble
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WWE Superstars all have their own ways of preparing for WrestleMania. The biggest show of the year will see The Rock return for a match, and he had some special assistance. 

Gallus is a stable that has been largely underutilized by WWE, but they put them to good use when training The Rock for his WrestleMania match. Wolfgang, Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey were up for the task.

During WWE’s media day before WrestleMania, Shawn Michaels spoke to SEScoops about Gallus training with The Rock. He said that this came out because the faction is so reliable, and they are also incredibly professional.

These are three guys who know what they’re doing, understand every aspect of it, sometimes you need a guy who’s younger who can fly around, but sometimes you need guys who are mature, and professional, who can adjust to everything to what Rock wants. Obviously, I’m partial to those guys, they’re fantastic guys, they’re professional and very dependable.

HBK then said that he received a photo of Gallus and The Rock doing the stable’s trademark pose. We hope that they release that soon. It seems that WWE picked the right people for the job to help train The Rock.

More on The Rock’s WrestleMania Training

The Rock had a lot of help to prepare for his in-ring return. After all, he is promoting this as the biggest tag team match in history, and it very well may be. 

WWE assisted in transporting two rings, one to Los Angeles and the other to Hawaii, working with Johnson’s team to secure warehouses for training venues. This arrangement provided The Rock with the necessary resources for his training regimen.

During his training, The Rock participated in simulated matches with NXT’s Gallus faction. As he prepared for an upcoming tag-team match, Johnson needed three wrestlers to practice in-ring sequences and refine his timing. Therefore, Wolfgang, along with real-life brothers Joe Coffey and Mark Coffey, were selected for this specific task.

Supervising the training sessions were Michael Hayes and Bobby Roode, accompanied by referee Chad Patton. Additionally, WWE medical personnel were present to oversee the safety of the rehearsals.

Cody Rhodes & Others “Safe & Okay” After Tour Bus Catches Fire Ahead of WrestleMania 40

Thomas Lowson
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Cody Rhodes is doing okay after his tour bus caught fire in what could be a bad omen for the American Nightmare ahead of WrestleMania 40. 

Taking to Twitter, Rhodes wanted fans to hear the news from him first before anywhere else. The 2023 & 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble winner then shared news of the fire before making clear that everybody was safe and okay. Rhodes added that he grabbed two items from the bus that will ‘pop’ fans and expressed his gratitude to the Philadelphia Fire Department. 

Cody Rhodes’ Busy Weekend

A bus fire is hardly a great omen for Rhodes to kick off arguably the biggest weekend of his professional wrestling career. At WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, Rhodes will team up with Seth Rollins to face Roman Reigns & The Rock. 

The next night, Rhodes will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. The stipulation for this match will be determined during the previous night’s tag-team match. This match will come one year on from Rhodes’ heartbreaking loss to the Tribal Chief at WrestleMania 39 in Los Angeles, CA. 

Win or lose this weekend, Rhodes will have little time to reflect on what happens at WWE WrestleMania 40. The American Nightmare is expected to appear on the post-WrestleMania edition of Monday Night Raw from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. If history is any indicator, this show will be a raucous night thanks to the international flavor of fans who traveled to Philly for WrestleMania. It’ll also be the final Raw after WrestleMania on broadcast television. 

Triple H Speaks On Possibility Of Wrestling Again as He Still Trains Every Day

Aaron Varble
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The ring has called many retired Superstars back for another match. Although Triple H is around every single week, he doesn’t intend on booking himself in matches any time soon.

WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque appeared on The Pat McAfee Show during WrestleMania weekend at WWE World. During that appearance, Triple H was asked a very interesting question about his future in the ring.

McAfee inquired if Triple H continues to train, despite his heart issues.“I still train, I still do all that,” Levesque said.

The return of The Rock this year sparked rumors online about Triple H possibly returning to the ring for a feud with The Rock or another wrestler at 54-years-old.

The Game was asked if he has any intention of getting back in the ring. He made it clear that time has passed for him.

“I don’t think so. I don’t think I should be out there taking bumps.”

Triple H’s Pro Wrestling Career

Triple H did just about everything he can in the pro wrestling ring. The Game has won the WWF/WWE Championship nine times, the World Heavyweight Championship five times, and the WWF/WWE Intercontinental Championship five times.

He also racked up many other title wins in the company. Moreover, Triple H is a WWE Hall of Famer as part of DX.

After becoming WWE COO after Vince McMahon departed, he holds the creative reins. Needless to say, things have gone very well for Triple H, and he is enjoying his current situation in a big way.

Contract News: Jonathan Gresham Inks Deal With TNA Wrestling

Aaron Varble
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The pro wrestling world is still moving everywhere, and TNA Wrestling has captured attention by signing a former ROH World Champion.

TNA Wrestling announced today the signing of Jonathan Gresham. He was previously with Tony Khan’s ROH company.

Gresham and the rest of the TNA roster are set to perform on Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21, which will include their Rebellion pay-per-view on Saturday. Sunday’s show will be recorded for the flagship weekly TV program, iMPACT!, aired on AXS TV Thursday nights.

Jonathan Gresham’s AEW Departure

Previously, it was reported that Gresham exchanged heated words with Khan during a meeting and requested his release from AEW and ROH. Another report mentioned that while no relationships were damaged, Gresham was not included in the plans of either AEW nor ROH.

Speaking with Nick Hausman of Haus of Wrestling, Gresham stressed his strong sense of passion and protection for his character, highlighting the years of development it underwent. The former ROH World Champion acknowledged his unprofessional behavior while attempting to communicate his message to Khan and AEW. However, he expressed growing frustration when he perceived a lack of receptiveness to his concerns.

“I can admit that I was acting very unprofessionally while trying and failing to convey the message to my former employer. After weeks of feeling like I wasn’t being heard or blown off, I was frustrated, to be honest. All I wanted was to be heard and for the communication to be had. If they had agreed and liked my ideas and what I wanted to say, great, if not, I would have appreciated the time and just accepted the outcome,” Gresham said.

Who is Jonathan Gresham

Gresham entered professional wrestling in 2005 at the age of 16, and he’s been working hard to make a name for himself since then. He is married to Jordynne Grace, the current TNA Knockouts World Champion, and they have six dogs together.

Jonathan Gresham has won titles from numerous companies, including Ring of Honor, where he was the ROH Pure Champion, ROH World Champion, and ROH World Tag Team Champion with Jay Lethal. In Combat Zone Wrestling, he secured the CZW World Heavyweight Championship once. Moreover, in Progress Wrestling, Gresham clinched the Progress Unified World Championship.

He has also claimed titles in Japan for Pro Wrestling Zero1. These include the International Junior Heavyweight Championship, the New Wrestling Alliance World Junior Heavyweight Championship, and the Zero1 USA Midwest X Division Championship/World Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Watch: AJ Styles Bloodied Brawling With WrestleMania Opponent LA Knight at WWE Media Day

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania starts tomorrow, and the company’s Superstars are doing their rounds for media day. This is normally a mild-mannered affair, but things escalated quickly today with LA Knight and AJ Styles.

Knight and Styles are set to battle at WrestleMania 40, but they couldn’t wait to brawl. The two saw each other at media day, and chaos ensued.

SE Scoops is there on location, and we acquired video of the altercation. This was quite a way to build for their match. As the two fought among the media, people scattered to give them space.

AJ Styles participated in media interviews during the 9-10:30 am session. LA Knight arrived around 10:30 am as part of the second wave. He was stationed right next to Styles. Soon after, they began exchanging glances, and Knight got up to confront AJ. He then grabbed a headlock, and a brawl ensued between the two wrestlers. Security was absent for approximately three minutes during the altercation. Styles was also busted up a bit in the process, as his nose did bleed some.

The two went at it until someone from WWE, who was wearing an NXT shirt, finally stepped in to break them up. This is not over between the two at all, and they will settle things at WrestleMania.

WWE did a good job of not putting babyfaces and heels next to each other for media day. Styles and Knight should not have been next to each other, but the Phenomenal One was running a bit late in his last interview, so they happened to be beside each other as Knight came in to start his interview. They did not last long sitting next to each other until a brawl started.

AJ Styles and LA Knight’s Road to WrestleMania 40

AJ Styles showed up at the Elimination Chamber, just as it looked like LA Knight may have been in a position to win the match. He attacked Knight, leaving him easy to eliminate from the chamber.

The two started a program for WrestleMania after that, with AJ Styles refusing to attend television and LA Knight showing up at his house to jump him in the process. The two have a lot of history with each other, so they will collide at the show of shows.

You can check out the WrestleMania 40 Card below

  • Night 1 Matches:
    1. Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship
    2. Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn for the WWE Intercontinental Championship
    3. The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa) vs. The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. A-Town Down Under (Austin Theory and Grayson Waller) vs. New Catch Republic (Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate) – Six-Pack Tag Team Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
    4. Jey Uso vs. Jimmy Uso
    5. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Naomi vs. Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai, Asuka, and Kairi Sane)
    6. Latino World Order (Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee) vs. Santos Escobar and “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio
    7. The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins
  • Night 2 Matches:
    1. Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship
    2. Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship
    3. LA Knight vs. AJ Styles
    4. Logan Paul (c) vs. Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens – Triple threat match for the WWE United States Championship
    5. The Pride (Bobby Lashley, Angelo Dawkins, and Montez Ford) (with B-Fab) vs. The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam, and Rezar) (with Scarlett and Paul Ellering) – Six-man Tag Team Philadelphia Street Fight
    6. Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (Stipulation to be determined by the result of Night 1’s main event)

AEW Exiting Exclusive Television Negotiation Window With WBD

Aaron Varble
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AEW has called Warner Bros Discovery their home since the company debuted Dynamite. As their deal with the television company ticks down, they are exiting a very important window of time.

Tony Khan confirmed during the ROH Supercard of Honor media call that AEW’s deal with Warner Bros Discovery is exiting their exclusive negotiation window. The AEW President did not reveal any further details or timetable of the contract’s actual expiration.

“I’m not sure that I am able to answer that question. I don’t want to endanger anybody who works here or get anybody in trouble. I’m not sure I can say. It’s coming up soon. I probably shouldn’t say the exact date. I do appreciate you asking that. I probably shouldn’t say the exact date. It’s coming up pretty soon here.”

TNT and TBS hosts All Elite Wrestling’s weekly television shows: Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision. Their partnership even caused AEW Dark to cease production on YouTube, because they wanted exclusivity.

How AEW Got Their Television Deal

In January 2020 AEW’s deal with WBD was extended with a four-year, approximately $175 million contract that included the addition of Rampage for Friday nights. Now, as we get even further into 2024, a new deal has not been signed. It all started in a rather interesting way in 2018.

AEW first came to Warner Bros Discovery thanks to Tony Khan’s friend, Kevin Riley, who helped him get on the network. Years later, and Riley is no longer a part of the company. His firing as part of WBD’s massive restructuring was a big blow to AEW, as they lost an important ally.

In 2021, Tony Khan appeared on AEW Restricted, as he walked Aubrey Edwards and Tony Scahivone down the road to AEW’s first television deal. It really all happened thanks to a close friend he already had, and the fact that Khan dressed as “Macho Man” Randy Savage at a Halloween party

Daily Drop (4/5): The Rock Gears Up For WrestleMania 40, Tony Khan Called Out By Released AEW Star

Aaron Varble
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Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Friday, April 5. This is a day that a lot of fans have waited for, and now we’

Before we get going, WWE revealed the stage for WrestleMania 40. It looks amazing when it’s all lit up, and you can check out the big unveiling here.

Also, tonight is the go-home episode of SmackDown before WrestleMania, followed by the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame at the Wells Fargo Center. This year’s ceremony will see Paul Heyman, Lia Maivia, Muhammad Ali, The US Express, Thunderbolt Patterson, and Bull Nakano receive inductions.

WrestleMania 40 is Tomorrow!

WWE:

– WaleMania 2024: WaleMania was last night. WWE and AEW stars were there along with legends like RVD. It was quite a party, and we have a comprehensive highlight article up now for you to check out!

– Waiting for The Rock: Fans at WWE World saw The Rock appear on April 4, but they had to wait hours. The Final Boss was two hours behind schedule, but he still had a wild crowd to cut a promo for.

– Free Agent Spotted: Giulia, who just left STARDOM, was spotted at WWE World. That is a very interesting place to see her, especially as NXT promoted a surprise audience member for Stand & Deliver.

– Bloodsport x WWE: Shayna Baszler and Charlie Dempsey had quite a time at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport event.

– Damage CTRL’s Breakup: New information was reported on WWE’s original plans to break up the Damage CTRL stable. It seems Charlotte Flair was supposed to be in the mix.

– The Rock Trained With NXT Superstars: A new report from ESPN revealed that The Rock had the Gallus faction come in to help him train for his tag team match at WrestleMania 40.

WWE SmackDown Card (4/5):

  • Andre The Giant Battle Royal
  • The KO Show w/ Kevin Owens – Special Guest: Randy Orton
  • Zelina Vega vs. Elektra Lopez
  • New Catch Republic vs. Grayson Waller & Austin Theory
  • Jey Uso vs. Solo Sikoa

AEW:

– Forbidden Door: Toni Storm made a pretty ominous statement about how the Forbidden Door is always open. As AEW Women’s Champion, that could mean something.

– Firing The Boys: Tony Khan claims that The Boys no-showed events, and that is why they were fired. In a deleted tweet, Brandon Tate called that a lie, and he claimed AEW said their release was due to budget cuts.

– AEW Dynamite Viewership: The April 3rd episode of AEW Dynamite brought in 752,000 viewers and secured a 0.23 rating in the highly sought-after 18-49 demographic. This marks a slight uptick from the previous week’s broadcast, which garnered 747,000 viewers with the same 0.23 demographic rating.

– AEW Media Rights: During the Supercard of Honor media call, Tony Khan confirmed that AEW’s exclusive negotiation window with WBD is ending soon.

Upcoming Wrestling Shows

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

WaleMania 2024: Highlights From Ultimate Night of Hip-Hop and & Wrestling Fusion

Aaron Varble
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WrestleMania weekend is always packed with events. There are indie pro wrestling shows going on, and other fan conventions. WaleMania went down at the Philadelphia at Franklin Music Hall on April 4, and there are a ton of highlights.

Since its first show in 2015, WaleMania has combined hip-hop and wrestling. It stands apart from other events during WrestleMania weekend, serving as a gathering where fans and wrestlers come together, and every year it’s usually the best party all weekend. 

Pro wrestlers from practically every company on the planet linked up for WaleMania this year. As you can see, it was quite a party, and there are many highlights to feature.

WaleMania 2024 Highlights

First off, we have to give Samantha Irvine all the flowers for this one. She not only rocked Razor Ramon’s theme music, but she did it on a flute. 

Rob Van Dam was there, smoking on stage, alongside Katie Forbes. It was quite a party as the crowd fed into the performance on stage, who were having just as much fun as the fans.

R-Truth was present at WaleMania, and he gave fans in attendance a different kind of show than they’re used to seeing from him. He grabbed the microphone and spit some fire bars for the fans.

Although he’s not booked for WrestleMania, WWE Hall of Famer RVD was also present. NXT Superstar Kelani Jordan couldn’t resist the opportunity to snap a photo with the Whole F’n Show.

Big E couldn’t miss WaleMania, either. The New Day member cut one of his trademark promos for fans, where he introduced Wale. As you can see in the clip, Trick Williams was there as well, and he had a wonderful time ahead of his main event match at NXT: Stand & Deliver against Carmelo Hayes.

Zilla Fatu didn’t miss the show, either. He was there in attendance at WaleMania, and he had a great time. As you can see in the video below, he also spent some time on the stage.

Although it was all fun at WaleMania, things did get a big tense as Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes had a chance to trade some words on stage.

Kiera Hogan stunned the crowd with her dancing skills. Willow Nightingale didn’t miss WaleMania, either, as the two AEW stars had a great time on stage in front of the live crowd.

Paul Walter Hauser Beats Sami Callihan at WrestleCon Supershow, The Sandman Appears

Thomas Lowson
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Emmy Award winner Paul Walter Hauser has another wrestling win to his name after defeating Sami Callihan at WrestleCon’s Supershow, albeit with some extreme help. 

The match took place at the WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow on April 4 and was an ode to hardcore wrestling. Chairs, kendo sticks, and doors were used as weapons, and ECW alum Bill ‘Fonzie’ Alfonso also got involved. 

Near the end of the match, Callihan was in control and it appeared that he’d be the first man to defeat Hauser in the ring. That was until the lights went down and “Enter Sandman” played, signifying the arrival of The Sandman. Inside the ECW Arena, Sandman helped Hauser get the win over Callihan. 

Paul Walter Hauser in Wrestling

Hauser, best known for his roles in Black Bird, I, Tonya, and Cruella, is now 3-0 in the world of professional wrestling. The actor made his wrestling debut at Wrestling Revolver’s UnReal event in November 2023 with a win over Matthew Palmer. He followed up on that by defeating Matt Cardona at Revolver’s Ready or Not event in March 2024.

Hauser has hardly kept his love of professional wrestling a secret even when not in the ring. At the 75th annual Emmy Awards, Hauser took home the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for his role as Larry Hall in Apple TV+’s Black Bird. His acceptance speech included several name-drops and references from the world of pro wrestling, including Matt Cardona and ‘get the tables!’

Toni Storm Declares “The Forbidden Door is Always Open” in Surprise Appearance for STARDOM

Thomas Lowson
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Fans who attended the recent STARDOM event were stunned to see AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm appear with a very special message. 

Storm appeared at the STARDOM American Dream event in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, better known as the ECW Arena. Storm began by expressing her gratitude for STARDOM, stating that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the promotion. 

The three-time and reigning AEW Women’s World Champion then presented flowers to Mariah May and said she was proud of her understudy. Turning her attention towards Mina Shirakawa, Storm got in the face of the Artist of Stardom Champion and told her that “the Forbidden Door is always open.”

After her appearance during the show, Storm had more to say about Mariah May.

Shirakawa is booked for Ring of Honor Supercard of Honor 2024. She’ll team with Maika and Mei Seira against Tam Nakano, Saya Kamitani, and AZM. As for Storm, her next high-profile match will come later this month at AEW Dynasty. The Starlet of Wrestling will put her gold on the line against Thunder Rosa. 

Another Surprising Name

Toni Storm wasn’t announced for the event, making her appearance at STARDOM American Dream a big surprise, but she wasn’t the only notable non-STARDOM name at the show. WWE Superstar Natalya was also at the event. On Twitter, the former Women’s Champion spoke about reuniting with Kyoko Inoue at the STARDOM show and shared some pictures from backstage. 

Natalya is not currently booked for a match at WWE WrestleMania 40. With that said, some fans are hoping to see a Women’s Battle Royal at the event, which would likely include the BOAT. The hashtag #WomensBattleRoyal trended for multiple days on Twitter. 

Massive Priority Free Agent Spotted At WWE World Event in Philadelphia

Thomas Lowson
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0

One of the most popular free agents on the market has been spotted at the WWE World event in Philadelphia amid reports of major interest by the promotion. 

Giulia was seen walking the floor at the event and took photos with fans who recognized her. Giulia was seen alongside STARDOM founder Rossy Ogawa who was ousted from the promotion earlier this year. 

In November 2023, it was reported that WWE had shown great interest in Giulia, a former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion. At the time it was said that the company had a “massive” interest in obtaining her services. While it was believed she would be attending a private try-out at the WWE Performance Center, those plans fell apart. 

Delay in Joining WWE? 

Giulia told STARDOM higher-ups last month that she was planning on leaving the promotion. While several signs point to Giulia joining WWE, it may not happen as quickly as the company would hope. 

Giulia has spoken in the past about having ‘things to do’ in Japan before she leaves for WWE. It is believed that she will first do work for Rossy Ogawa’s rumored promotion. Ogawa was fired from STARDOM after it was claimed he was ‘poaching’ talent. 

Giulia gave her word to Ogawa that she would help out if he launched a promotion which has taken priority over joining WWE. Ogawa has refuted the claim that he poached talent away from STARDOM. With his exit, Bushiroad, the parent company of STARDOM, has appointed Taro Okada and Oyama, the Bushiroad Fight merchandise manager in charge. 

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